What Executive Presence & Yoga Have In Common …
I love yoga. I also love Executive Presence. You can find me most mornings up at 6 am on my yoga mat pushing myself to get one more inch towards my toes. You can also find me complimenting the grocery clerk, the gardener, and the CEO on their excellent Executive Presence because I have a keen eye for those that listen and lead. You don’t need to be an executive to have Executive Presence; just like you don’t have to be a yogi to enjoy yoga. Both require practice but are something you can learn it and constantly improve upon.
Here are the five things that I’ve discovered that Executive Presence and Yoga have in common.
1. FOCUS.
Yoga instructors consistently work towards bringing your focus to your breath and your body movements. This is because they know that everyone’s mind wanders and to glean the most from your practice you need to actively focus on what you are doing. This is the same thing for Executives looking to enhance their reach and impact. For those looking to improve their Executive Presence, first identify “what is distracting you?”'; then actively work to eliminate those distractions so that you can focus on your ….
2. INTENTION.
In yoga, each class begins with setting an intention. This means assigning a reason for ‘why’ you are taking the time, energy, and dedication to completing the activity. For executives, you should be in the habit, or get in the habit, of assigning a reason or meaning to the activities and engagements you pursue or partake in. Ask yourself what is your objective of the engagement that I’m going to or attending. By setting an intention, you will instruct your mind to stay focused on that intention and establish better Executive Presence. When your mind has instruction, it tend to follow it. So whether your intentions is to “listen”, “learn”, “lead”, “coach”, or “engage” … state your intention so that you mind and body will be receptive to the information shared or directive in your communication.
3. BREATHWORK.
Breathwork is the foundation of yoga; arguably more important than the body movements. Breathwork should be foundational for any leader looking to improve their Executive Presence. Executive Presence is a persona that lets everyone know that he or she is in charge, confident and capable of leading others. Breathwork allows you to control your mind and your body almost instantly. It is one of the most effective tools on the market and it is available to all of us for free! Breath-awareness is the best barometer to your internal feelings. By utilizing breathwork techniques you can take charge of your internal thoughts and external composure. This, combined with your experience and expertise, is what will allow you to confidently lead others.
Practice now, take a big deep breathe, if it comes naturally and easy - you are likely in a good state of being. If a big deep breath is challenging, work on how to balance your breath with your thoughts in order to lead more effectively. Use your breath to speed up or slow down your communications to create lasting impact and give weight to your words. Learn to make breath an anchor to your mindfulness; and a vehicle for relaxation of your mind and body on any given topic. Being calm and collected is the foundation of expanding upon most leaders Executive Presence.
4. VISUALIZATION.
Yogi’s love visualization exercises. It’s a fast track ride to an alternate version of yourself. Most leaders know what Executive Presence looks like, sounds like, and they even know what it feels like. Clients that I work with know this because they’ve had the benefit of being around or listening to others who inspire them and whom has displayed Executive Presence. I believe each leader’s Executive Presence comes from your ability to visualize your own best version of yourself - and then to act like it. My clients create a scenario for themselves of a setting, audience, and situation where they need to lead. I then carefully have them describe the scenario and themselves as if they were characters in their own movie. Here are questions to ask yourself to create a picture of the external characteristics of your personalize Executive Presence:
Where are you sitting? What are you wearing? What does your hair look like?
Describe your posture? Are you smiling? Laughing? Listening? What are emotion are you feeling?
Where are your eyes focused? What does your voice sound like? Where are your hands placed?
What does your breath sound like? When are you taking the moment to breath?
Etc.
5. CONNECTION.
Yoga is a personal and internal practice. Executive Presence, specifically the above steps are personal, internal, and require practice; so much practice that they form a habit. This habit should becomes a part of your subconscious. Your job as a leader is to be the person who can quickly focus, set an intention, breath - thus calming your mind and body - and then connect with your audience.
These steps must become a part of your subconscious because your ability to connect to or with your audience depends on you being so in tune with yourself, that you can forget about your appearance and wandering thoughts and focus solely on the person or audience you wish to serve or lead. Being fully present (a line you will hear repeatedly in any yoga practice) is the most effective way to connect with others and creates a willingness to follow you. If you are too caught up in your own head, and the many subtle ways you can exude Executive Presence, you will not fulfill your desired intention.
For more information on ways you can improve upon your Executive Presence please feel free to book a discovery call with me at PomegranateConsulting.net/contact.