The term "executive presence" might be new, but the behavior it describes is not. After all, truly exceptional leaders, those few with great executive presence, have always been with us. If you have had the good fortune of working with one, you undoubtedly remember the experience-the bearing, confidence, and command of the room, the clarity of speech and compelling vision, the thoughtfulness and accessibility that inspired you to be more motivated and self-confident. But where does executive presence come from and how do we cultivate it in ourselves? These are the questions I hear most often about executive presence-and Understanding Executive Presence is about the answers. It is a practical guide for understanding exactly what we're looking at when we make judgments about executive presence and how to turn these observations into meaningful development actions.
