Executive Presence: The Missing Link Between Merit And Success by Sylvia Ann Hewlett (1899-12-31)
- Downloads：7700
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-09-12 05:51:05
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Sylvia Ann Hewlett
- ISBN：0062380559
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Summary
Are you "leadership material？" More importantly， do others perceive you to be？
Sylvia Ann Hewlett， a noted expert on workplace power and influence， shows you how to identify and embody the Executive Presence （EP） that you need to succeed。 You can have the experience and qualifications of a leader， but without executive presence， you won't advance。
EP is an amalgam of qualities that true leaders exude， a presence that telegraphs you're in charge or deserve to be。 Articulating those qualities isn't easy， however。
Based on a nationwide survey of college graduates working across a range of sectors and occupations， Sylvia Hewlett and the Center for Talent Innovation discovered that EP is a dynamic， cohesive mix of appearance， communication， and gravitas。 While these elements are not equal， to have true EP， you must know how to use all of them to your advantage。
Filled with eye-opening insights， analysis， and practical advice for both men and women， mixed with illustrative examples from executives learning to use the EP， Executive Presence will help you make the leap from working like an executive to feeling like an executive。
Sylvia Ann Hewlett， a noted expert on workplace power and influence， shows you how to identify and embody the Executive Presence （EP） that you need to succeed。 You can have the experience and qualifications of a leader， but without executive presence， you won't advance。
EP is an amalgam of qualities that true leaders exude， a presence that telegraphs you're in charge or deserve to be。 Articulating those qualities isn't easy， however。
Based on a nationwide survey of college graduates working across a range of sectors and occupations， Sylvia Hewlett and the Center for Talent Innovation discovered that EP is a dynamic， cohesive mix of appearance， communication， and gravitas。 While these elements are not equal， to have true EP， you must know how to use all of them to your advantage。
Filled with eye-opening insights， analysis， and practical advice for both men and women， mixed with illustrative examples from executives learning to use the EP， Executive Presence will help you make the leap from working like an executive to feeling like an executive。
Reviews
Aaloak
，
Sylvia Ann Hewlett has given clear actionable insights in the book to build an executive presence。 We might have heard people advising us to improve our communication style or appearance or Gravitas。 But sometimes we struggle to take actions。 This book can help in taking those actions
Wendeline
，
Give it as a gift to someone getting into businessSome good advice， hard-hitting and will certainly offend the most sensitive and idealistic newcomers to business。 I might give it as a gift to start conversation with someone who needs feedback， but takes things too personally。 Four stars instead of five because it goes on for longer than I thought necessary， and it repeats points stated elsewhere in business literature。 All in all a good book to read and good content to be aware of。
Susan Kathleen
，
This book will help me in my professional life。 I enjoyed it and actually realized ways I could work on changing a few of my behaviors。
Hossein Raspberry
，
I was about to write a review but saw other readers writing similar critiques as I had in mind！ this user said it all， exactly my thoughts on the book。https://www。goodreads。com/review/show。。。 I was about to write a review but saw other readers writing similar critiques as I had in mind！ this user said it all， exactly my thoughts on the book。https://www。goodreads。com/review/show。。。 。。。more
Sophia Tseng
，
Read this book if you ever wonder why people aren’t taking your ideas seriously。 It distilled 15 years of experience learned the hard ways at work。
Shannon Kauderer
，
This book covered a lot of information that was already known and ironically did so in such a way that alienated the reader。 （Despite the fact that much of the book was about how to not alienate yourself。） There is some ok information in here， particularly for those unversed in Executive Presence， but I don't think it's presented in such a way that it's easy to learn from。 This book covered a lot of information that was already known and ironically did so in such a way that alienated the reader。 （Despite the fact that much of the book was about how to not alienate yourself。） There is some ok information in here， particularly for those unversed in Executive Presence， but I don't think it's presented in such a way that it's easy to learn from。 。。。more
Jared
，
I was assiduously reading this book and was even was taking notes as I read it， which might have been my downfall on this one。。。I ended up getting bogged down with it and ended up getting tired of reading around half way through。 All in all， this has some great information that is very useful if you are interested in increasing your presence and gravitas。
Luz Bernal
，
Great book！！！
Manisha
，
Thanks to my husband recommending the book to me。 I liked the book overall。 The last chapter however， I had some difficulty in agreeing to the complete viewpoint when the last some headlines of the chapter started appearing more relevant。
Pam C。
，
This is a book many women and minorities will relate to。 Over and over the author shares the experiences of others and how/what they've done to get ahead。 I don't agree with all the advice/suggestions that are given， but it does confirm we still need to work on what executive presence means in today's work environment。 This is a book many women and minorities will relate to。 Over and over the author shares the experiences of others and how/what they've done to get ahead。 I don't agree with all the advice/suggestions that are given， but it does confirm we still need to work on what executive presence means in today's work environment。 。。。more
Garrett
，
The perfect guide to work in a toxic system instead of actively trying to change it！ "Never try to be someone you're not，" Hewlett argues as she tells you to lose weight， change your voice， and stop wearing glasses。 "It's ridiculous for someone with curves to go into an audition hiding them。 It signals a lack of awareness， even an immaturity on your part"。 "Volunteering embarrassing details of her seemingly flawless life， owning up to her seventy-pound weight gain during her first pregnancy。" Oh The perfect guide to work in a toxic system instead of actively trying to change it！ "Never try to be someone you're not，" Hewlett argues as she tells you to lose weight， change your voice， and stop wearing glasses。 "It's ridiculous for someone with curves to go into an audition hiding them。 It signals a lack of awareness， even an immaturity on your part"。 "Volunteering embarrassing details of her seemingly flawless life， owning up to her seventy-pound weight gain during her first pregnancy。" Oh， the shame of being pregnant and *gasp* gaining weight？？？？ What a skank！！ The F'n audacity for the author to actually tell women to go to a vocal coach to make them sound more appealing to men。 My favorite part of the book is when Hewlett tells people of color to learn more about white culture "to add to the conversation。" "21 percent of the senior executives we surveyed believe that being overweight detracts from a woman's executive presence。"Hewlett advises overweight people to pay attention to how healthy you look and do exercises to please the office men。 My issue is not Hewlett's acknowledgment of sexism and bigotry in the office， but her failure to strongly critique the system's unfair expectations。 Her fatphobic language is literally all over the book; it's gross as hell。 My mouth was open for most of the book， and in shock， she actually wrote these words down。 I kept expecting her to propose wiring mouths shut to stop overeating。 This was just so， so insulting。 。。。more
Brian
，
More skimmable than a direct read， and has specific advice for women and minorities。
Alice
，
Most one and two star reviews here cover my views。 Very basic， no real workable insights or actual solutions。 This might have been more interesting had the writer included more scientific findings besides opinion surveys， anecdotes and her own focus groups。
Lauren Aschermann
，
I've read a number of professional development books and， quite honestly， this one was painful to get through。 The author detailed the three pillars of EP- gravitas， communication， and appearance， describing how appearance attributes to only ~5% of your total EP。 Despite this low contribution， I felt the central theme of appearance constantly being revisited， and how gravely important it is to improve yours （eye roll）。 In a time where diversity and inclusivity is encouraged， I felt this book mis I've read a number of professional development books and， quite honestly， this one was painful to get through。 The author detailed the three pillars of EP- gravitas， communication， and appearance， describing how appearance attributes to only ~5% of your total EP。 Despite this low contribution， I felt the central theme of appearance constantly being revisited， and how gravely important it is to improve yours （eye roll）。 In a time where diversity and inclusivity is encouraged， I felt this book missed the mark。 The book could have been summed up in a few pages or an article: assimilate to the male， white， C-suite culture， and "show your teeth。" There are other， more valuable， and less demeaning books young women could garner influence from to continue to develop in a professional career。 。。。more
Juan Castro
，
The 3 Pillars of Executive Presence （EP）:1。 Gravitas: How a person acts。 Leaders exude confidence， decisiveness， integrity， emotional intelligence， reputation， vision。2。 Communication: How a person speaks。 Superior speaking skills， ability to command a room， forcefulness， read people， sense of humor， body language。3。 Appearance: How a person looks。 Well groomed， physically fit， wear simple stylish clothing。EP is a combination of poise and authenticity。 It is a measure of image。—About Gravitas—La The 3 Pillars of Executive Presence （EP）:1。 Gravitas: How a person acts。 Leaders exude confidence， decisiveness， integrity， emotional intelligence， reputation， vision。2。 Communication: How a person speaks。 Superior speaking skills， ability to command a room， forcefulness， read people， sense of humor， body language。3。 Appearance: How a person looks。 Well groomed， physically fit， wear simple stylish clothing。EP is a combination of poise and authenticity。 It is a measure of image。—About Gravitas—Lack of integrity and sexual impropriety eliminate all sense of gravitas。Increase gravitas by:-Associating with important and influential people。-Being generous with credit。-Sticking to what you know。-Showing humility。-Smiling more。-Empowering others。-Snatching victory from jaws of defeat。-Driving change rather than being changed。—About Communication—Is not about WHAT you say， is HOW you say it。 Tone， word choice， inflection， articulation， delivery， body language。 Every encounter is an opportunity to create an impression。Speaking too fast is never acceptable。 You should not be afraid of silence。As a presenter: include a good mix of data and narrative， use props sparingly， be succinct。Command a room: read the audience and adjust to it。Humor: master the art of small talk， learn about several topics outside your area of expertise。 Don’t distract yourself from the present moment （checking a watch， tapping feet， rustling papers， looking at the phone， indicate your not fully present， it undermines your EP。—About Appearance—Good grooming signals that you’re in control。 Minimize distractions from your skills and knowledge。Don’t look overtly sexual。Dress for the job you want， not for the job you currently have。Compliment a signature look with a particular style pice or accent （men-colorful socks/tie。 Women-handbag/quirky brooch）Seek for help in this areas if need to （personal shoppers， make-up classes， image consultants） 。。。more
Shreya Narayan
，
I mean。。 it’s fine。 Most of the big topics are things we know （empathy is important， keep a polished appearance， speak your opinion but also know when to。。） but she did a great job of driving her points home with plenty of real examples。 My biggest problem was how for most of the book， she wrote about gender biases （how women are scrutinized more about appearance， being called a leader vs。 a b**** for the same action， etc。） as fact， up until the last chapter where she finally addresses how this I mean。。 it’s fine。 Most of the big topics are things we know （empathy is important， keep a polished appearance， speak your opinion but also know when to。。） but she did a great job of driving her points home with plenty of real examples。 My biggest problem was how for most of the book， she wrote about gender biases （how women are scrutinized more about appearance， being called a leader vs。 a b**** for the same action， etc。） as fact， up until the last chapter where she finally addresses how this is unfair and what we can do to change this。 。。。more
Ashley
，
The few pieces of （fairly obvious） good advice are so buried beneath the body-shaming， elitism， racism， and misogyny as to be rendered useless。
Bruce Dixon
，
Had a lot of good info up front but kinda turned into feeling whiney。
VENKATRAMAN C K
，
It is necessary for leaders to understand that there is fine “missing link” between being a High Performer and being considered fit for a sear at the Table。 This missing link is Executive Presence （EP） 。 This critical leadership trait is one of the toughest to give or take feedback and this book addresses both elements。Quite often， many of us think Charisma， God given good looks & other natural abilities make that cut easily。 There are many examples that reinforce this misconception。 This book a It is necessary for leaders to understand that there is fine “missing link” between being a High Performer and being considered fit for a sear at the Table。 This missing link is Executive Presence （EP） 。 This critical leadership trait is one of the toughest to give or take feedback and this book addresses both elements。Quite often， many of us think Charisma， God given good looks & other natural abilities make that cut easily。 There are many examples that reinforce this misconception。 This book asserts that EP can be built ， given that you are already high performer 。 The author breaks down EP unto three components - Gravitas （how you act） ， Communication （how you speak） and Appearance （how you look） 。 Each of this is further broken down to four or five elements in each category。Lots of examples & advise is provided too - Dos and Don'ts to help you build your EP。 The book is written from US perspective & the author clearly highlights & addresses the different standards & challenges faced by Minorities & Women in this space。 I find it applicable globally。 A good practical book that is easy to read & will add Value！！ 。。。more
Alvin Soh
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Basically EP is made up of:1。 Gravitas- confidence， decisiveness， integrity， EQ， reputation， charisma2。 Communication- Speaking skills， ability to command a room， assertiveness， ability to read people， sense of humour， body language3。 Appearance- being groomed， physical attractiveness， clothed for next position， tall， youthful & vigorous More challenges for females and coloured skins as they are walking on tightrope of doing too much or too little。
Jose
，
The importance of creating an EP to improve our positions and to get were we want to be。 It is aligned with the phrase: start being who you want to be and not who you are now。Some of the points can be considered as polemic （like the importance on how you look， height， etc。） but it is very useful to understand how to take these lessons and show yourself as a leader。A must for any one。
Bridget
，
I didn't really like this book。 I bought it because I saw the author speak and thought she was compelling。 She truly is a great speaker that causes you to really think about the content of her speech and dig into yourself。Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this book in my current state of social distancing。 There is no "presence" at all。 However， the first few chapters had examples that I felt were leaving out a lot of details or something。 They were just too short。I liked the examples from the I didn't really like this book。 I bought it because I saw the author speak and thought she was compelling。 She truly is a great speaker that causes you to really think about the content of her speech and dig into yourself。Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this book in my current state of social distancing。 There is no "presence" at all。 However， the first few chapters had examples that I felt were leaving out a lot of details or something。 They were just too short。I liked the examples from the last two chapters much better and found myself at least more interested in them。 。。。more
Camille
，
This book is a vital and urgent read for anyone -- most notably anyone in an underindexed category like black， queer， or female -- who is or aspires to be in leadership in a traditional， hierarchical organization。 This book uses data， research， and anecdotes to give you the formula for how to comport yourself to be perceived as a leader or potential leader。With the code shippe， she also doesn't shy away from the fact that the way the world is right now is deeply unfair to us underindexed folks。 This book is a vital and urgent read for anyone -- most notably anyone in an underindexed category like black， queer， or female -- who is or aspires to be in leadership in a traditional， hierarchical organization。 This book uses data， research， and anecdotes to give you the formula for how to comport yourself to be perceived as a leader or potential leader。With the code shippe， she also doesn't shy away from the fact that the way the world is right now is deeply unfair to us underindexed folks。 I think her hope is that by getting more of us into leadership that that can be transformed。 I think that hope is wrongheaded but I'm not mad at her for having it。 This kind of reformism is the animating spirit for bandaids of all sorts。 Bandaids don't heal but they can sometimes help stop the bleeding。A VITAL read also for white dudes who aspire to be allies but are doing it mostly on the wings of a sense of wanting to be "a good white person"。 Arm yourself with a little information here。。。。and then go read some Robin DiAngelo and Ta'Nehisi Coates。 。。。more
Darius Vilimas
，
Executive presenceThis book is all about why it matters to have so called executive presence。 Mainly it talks about 3 main areas of EP - gravitas， appearance， communication。 It's very informative and worth reading。 What I haven't likedthat much is that some topics are a bit repetitive and superficial also it focuses a lot on women and minorities。 So if you belong to one of the two it might be even more useful read to you。 Executive presenceThis book is all about why it matters to have so called executive presence。 Mainly it talks about 3 main areas of EP - gravitas， appearance， communication。 It's very informative and worth reading。 What I haven't likedthat much is that some topics are a bit repetitive and superficial also it focuses a lot on women and minorities。 So if you belong to one of the two it might be even more useful read to you。 。。。more
Wesley Magee
，
For most people this book will not be worth your time。 Its assumptions are based upon survey data， where most psychologists will tell you is biased and ill informed。 The book is light on actual concrete advice other than to seek feedback from other people。 Its low point is a recommendation to short men to find a very tall girlfriend to nullify your lack of height。
Natalia Luneva
，
I've read this book one week before one of my speaking engagements and it was useful to help understand non-verbal little things that help to be perceived as a leader。 I've read this book one week before one of my speaking engagements and it was useful to help understand non-verbal little things that help to be perceived as a leader。 。。。more
Rodney Jones
，
Sylvia answers a lot of questions that most people are wondering。 In addition， she also gives excellent action items to take advantage of what she's sharing。 Sylvia answers a lot of questions that most people are wondering。 In addition， she also gives excellent action items to take advantage of what she's sharing。 。。。more
Maggie
，
This is the worst 'leadership' book I've ever read。 No support of equal rights in the workplace and places too much importance on superficial tributes in order to succeed。 It's hard to believe that it was written on 2104。 This is the worst 'leadership' book I've ever read。 No support of equal rights in the workplace and places too much importance on superficial tributes in order to succeed。 It's hard to believe that it was written on 2104。 。。。more
Amy
，
I feel very mixed about this book On the one hand it is entirely a book about “authentically” conforming to appearance and behavior codes to succeed。 On the other hand， the reality is that these “norms” are the reality for most of us mere mortals who are simply trying to get ahead。 Dress well but not too well。 Be feminine but not weak or sexy。 Speak firmly but not too shrill。 Too bad if you are a short man or a chubby woman。 Perhaps I am too naive to hope that a book like this doesn’t have to ex I feel very mixed about this book On the one hand it is entirely a book about “authentically” conforming to appearance and behavior codes to succeed。 On the other hand， the reality is that these “norms” are the reality for most of us mere mortals who are simply trying to get ahead。 Dress well but not too well。 Be feminine but not weak or sexy。 Speak firmly but not too shrill。 Too bad if you are a short man or a chubby woman。 Perhaps I am too naive to hope that a book like this doesn’t have to exist for long。 But in the mean time， it can’t be ignored even as it helps perpetuate the white educated cisgender patriarchal status quo。 。。。more
Richard Smolik
，