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ASSESSING PEOPLE
Did you know that fewer than 20% of managers have ever been trained or coached in how to effectively assess people?
This glaring leadership skills gap undermines your ability to develop talent and boost performance. Without mastering assessment, your efforts to grow your team and elevate results will fall short. Our expert tips will empower you to assess more confidently and drive meaningful improvement.
Gravitas at the Top
7 Ways Senior Executives Stand Apart in Impact and Influence
1. Depth and Breadth of Knowledge and Insight
Senior executives must possess deep, broad, and relevant expertise that commands authority and respect across the organization and industry. This expertise enables them to provide unique insights and make impactful decisions that others trust and follow, even when those others are not experts themselves.
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2. Authenticity and Earned Authority
Unlike lower levels where positional power may suffice, senior leaders must cultivate authentic gravitas—a presence grounded in genuine wisdom, reflection, and earned confidence rather than superficial displays of authority or arrogance
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3. Ability to Influence Across Layers and Diverse Stakeholders
Senior executives lead through multiple layers of management and must influence not only direct reports but also peers, board members, external partners, and stakeholders. Their gravitas allows them to make an immediate and powerful impact in these varied contexts, often without longstanding personal relationships.
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4. Mastery of Communication and Presence
They must communicate with precision, confidence, and impact—knowing what to say, when, how, and to whom. This includes mastering body language, tone, and the ability to read complex audiences and situations to adapt their message effectively.
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5. Poise and Decisiveness Under Pressure
Senior leaders are expected to demonstrate calmness, decisiveness, and presence even in high-stress or ambiguous situations. This steadiness reassures others and strengthens their influence and credibility.
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6. Strategic Vision and the Ability to Inspire Trust
Beyond operational competence, senior executives must project a clear strategic vision and inspire trust and commitment to that vision. Their gravitas signals to others that they are leadership material capable of guiding the organization through complexity and change.
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7. Representing the Organization Externally
Senior executives often serve as the public face of the company, representing it to external audiences such as investors, regulators, and media. They must embody the company’s values and credibility, making gravitas essential for maintaining reputation and influence beyond internal boundaries.
Elevating Leadership: A Higher Standard of Gravitas
While gravitas, impact, and influence are valuable at all levels, the most senior executives require a much higher degree of authentic authority, strategic insight, communication mastery, and presence to lead effectively across complex organizational and external environments. Their gravitas is a critical factor in their ability to inspire trust, command respect, and drive organizational success—setting them apart from those at lower levels.