Even the most senior professionals have blind spots. And if your career’s on the rise, chances are you’ve still got gaps to close. Some may be obvious. Others—less so—are hidden in the habits you think are “fine” but could be holding you back from great.
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Small adjustments in how you speak, present, and carry yourself can lead to outsized gains in how you're perceived. Gravitas. Influence. Impact. These are the traits that set people apart—especially in high-stakes environments.
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Suggested action 1
Review the six areas above. Where do you see room for growth? Start with one, and go deeper.
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Suggested action 2
Think of three people who impress you, three who don’t, and three outliers from other industries. What are they doing—or not doing—that affects their presence? What does that tell you about your own opportunities?
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Suggested action 3
Your perception of your gravitas matters—but others’ impressions matter more. Ask trusted peers or mentors how you come across in the six areas outlined below.​​​

• Making your Image Count

• Do you look mediocre? Do you project the image of a worker bee—or a king or queen bee?

• A casual image can be interpreted as a casual attitude, in contrast to a more serious one - a level up - representing everything that’s best in class.

• Do you look impressive to other people some of the time but not all of the time?

• Does your image reflect your level of seniority and that to which you aspire or below it?

• What kind of impression do you make when you greet and meet people?​

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• Speaking & Articulation

• Non-Native Speakers. It's possible you may often be misunderstood or hard to follow.

• Poor pronunciation. Monotone delivery. These are common problems - if you know you're good in these areas - you probably are but if you think you're okay then they're probably problem areas for you!

• These skills separate out those with low credibility from those who are highly credible.

• Expression & emphasis. This is what separates the influential from the forgettable.

• Knowing when to shut up. Failure to do so at the right time diminishes impact.

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• Structuring for Impact

• Beginning, middle and end. If you're conscious about the need to apply and how you apply structure - then you've got this mastered otherwise you'll fail to communicate with a logical flow, to build confidence and credibility.

• Adding weight to you case. To be convincing, you must substantiate your points.

• Be authentic & impactful. This fosters connection and trust

• How to amplify your message. Messaging must be relevant, well-reasoned, and backed up. Otherwise, people think: “So what?”

• Clear calls to action. How clear are you about what you’re asking others to do? This projects credibility otherwise uncertainty or weakness.

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• Assertiveness & Impact

• Do you know that your personality impacts influence. Presence isn’t neutral; it either adds to or detracts from their authority.

• Too strong, too weak. How do others see you, and to what extent are you effective?

• Likeability. People are more likely to choose to work with those they like.

• Rapport & small talk are underestimated.  Younger or more reserved individuals often miss this. Without it, interactions lack connection.

• Exhibiting authority. Are you clear, composed, and confident?

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• Presenting to People

• 92% of people are distracted

• How to capture and maintain interest

• Most people fail to properly check in and out of meetings

• Connect first. Maintaining Engagement.

• On Zoom: Key differences

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• Building Self-Confidence

• The cornerstone of gravitas, impact & influence

• Seven ways to build self-confidence.

• Hacks to elevate confidence

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PS – Want to know what others really think? Read their stories here...
Anecdotes