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Boards of Directors, customers, managers, employees, and community leaders have expectations for individuals in leadership roles. The higher the position, the greater the expectations. A combination of leadership, confidence, competence, and social acumen project an image of someone who should be taken seriously and who has the ability to influence others. People are constantly observing you and forming ideas about your capabilities. It is wise for you to help mold these ideas about who you are and what you can accomplish. The result can shape your career.

Ask yourself the following questions to determine if developing your executive presence is worth your time and energy:

• Do the perceptions of the CEO/President, members of the board, managers, priority customers, peers and/or direct reports matter to you and your career? To what degree?
• Have you observed individuals with Executive Presence? How have their career development opportunities progressed?
• Have you observed individuals without this characteristic? What has been the progression of their careers?
• How do you want your career to advance?
• Are you committed to change?

S. C. Gatton & Associates’ research showed that Executive Presence is comprised of five areas:

• Knowledge & Experience
• Leadership Savvy
• Advanced Communication Skills
• Executive Image
• Social Acumen

Executive Presence | Professional Presence | Dallas | Fort Worth | DFW | Texas TX

For today’s executive, spoken and unspoken expectations have risen substantially. Executives are judged by more than just results. How the job is performed is just as important.

So, how well do you navigate the Board of Directors, stakeholders, and employees? Can you tap into the lines of communication to get the information you need, when you need it? Do you have the right talents? Do you have a clear understanding of your role in the company’s success? Do you know how decisions are made? Do you know how to voice an opposing opinion and be heard?

How broad and deep are your levels of knowledge and experience?

Today’s formidable challenge is to successfully lead in an environment that is constantly evolving and realigning. Organizations have a culture. A way of getting things done. A way of changing. A way of leading. There are variations from the home office to the regional offices, the holding company to the subsidiaries, the manager’s to the executive’s office, and from the United States to other countries. It is critical to be able to quickly and accurately understand the subtleties and to act accordingly.

As you ascend in an organization, there is less interaction with the boss. Your self-confidence in your abilities is tested and scrutinized. You must believe that the knowledge and experience that you offer are of value – allowing you to quickly become a contributor rather than an observer at the planning table.

Does your leadership style get results or get in your way of making a difference?

Without saying a word, an executive speaks volumes. The way he walks through an office. The comfort he has shaking hands and initiating conversations. The tone of voice he uses. The words he chooses. The clothes he wears.

To be a successful communicator, you must learn to meet the expectations of your direct reports, peers, and senior executives. This requires interpreting communication cues from others. You must know how to bridge generation gaps, gain commitment from all stakeholders, deal effectively across functional units, and address international issues.

The more flexible, insightful and aware . . . the more effective you become. Bridges that have been burnt now must be rebuilt. Building alliances even with archrivals sets the stage for support at the most critical times.

As an executive, you have a responsibility inside a company. You must speak to all levels of the company as a senior manager representative in touch with “real world” issues. You must present an informed and credible message to the executive team, especially designed to quickly and concisely address their concerns. You must master the ability to present unfavorable news with undaunted assurance for the future, provide steadfast confidence in a new direction, and convey a new vision with a zest for results.

As an executive, your responsibilities also extend outside the company. This requires a credible and empowered image in public forums, including customer conferences and meetings as well as media events. You must be versed on a variety of subjects, conversant on sensitive issues, and diplomatic with individuals with opposing views.

Are your communication skills sophisticated enough to effectively handle the expansive demands of your position as well as the one you desire?

Your image reflects executive status as well as the company’s values. Have you ever been surprised to discover someone was not an executive when you assumed they were? How would you dress to portray an executive persona? Beyond clothes, what gives the desired impression?

What impression are you giving?

Effective executives ensure clients, fellow executives, business associates, and guests are comfortable in their surroundings. Details about dining and social engagements must be handled with finesse. People admire and respect others who are comfortable and at ease with business as well as social etiquette. Attention to these details is no longer a concern; it is elevated to a requirement. As you progress in your career, social skills build bridges to highly profitable business relationships.

Are you missing opportunities?

• Contact S. C. Gatton & Associates, a reliable and credible resource, for workshop opportunities and one-on-one customized coaching.
• Observe and study individuals with Executive Presence.
• Pay attention to the balancing act – build Executive Presence while maintaining genuineness and authenticity.

People are constantly observing you and forming ideas about your capabilities. When you take the steps to help mold these ideas about who you are and what you can accomplish, you shape your career. In addition, you:

• Increase your promote-ability quotient
• Enhance your reputation
• Maximize your visibility
• Heighten your productivity
• Expand your influencing abilities

S. C. Gatton & Associates offer one-on-one coaching , workshops and speeches in the area of executive presence. These efforts are geared toward the senior executive as well as individuals just starting their leadership careers. The coaching efforts range from three to twelve months and are customized to the individual needs.

The speeches and workshops include:

• Speaking Your Way To The Top
• Quality Connections
• Executive Presence
• The Savvy Challenge

We offer insights and knowledge to catapult your career into a new level of success. We provide a...

• Comprehensive understanding of business and social acumen
• Thorough awareness of a leader’s world
• Resources to align your external packaging (clothes, hair, make-up, body language) with an image of success
• Library of advanced communication tools
• Experts in public speaking
• Commitment to your success

Susan’s background includes being the Southwest Area Manager for The Forum Corporation, an international leader in management and sales training. In this position, she managed the southwest sales team and support staff, established the Forum Corporation as an industry leader in the region, and successfully built relationships with major corporations including: Conoco/Dupont, Ingersoll Rand, Texas Instruments, and others.

Susan served on the advisory board of the Charles Tandy American Enterprise Center, a part of the Neely Business School at Texas Christian University. The Charles Tandy American Enterprise Center (CTAEC) is a comprehensive executive resource organization that offers non-degreed executive training, education, and development to key companies in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, including Bell Helicopter, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Cook’s Children’s Hospital and others.

Due to Susan's experience and expertise she has appeared on television, KRLD radio talk show, and was featured on “Our American Workplace,” KFNX 1100 AM out of Phoenix, Arizona. She has been the subject of articles in major metropolitan newspapers across the U.S.A. including Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, New York, and Dallas.

She is a past president of the North Texas Speakers Association and recipient of the Joseph Charbonneau award for her leadership in the speaking profession.

We have many clients throughout Dallas, Fort Worth, DFW and the USA. They include:

Baker McKenzie LLP	JPMorgan Retirement Services
Bell Helicopter Textron	KPMG
CitiCapital	Manulife Financial
FreddieMac	Marriott International
Fujitsu-ICL	Northern Trust Bank
GlaxoSmithKline	Pembroke Hill School
INVESCO Real Estate	Southern Methodist University
Hallmark Cards	Texas Christian University
H & R Block	Texas Industries
Johnson & Johnson	Verizon
And many others.

“Your personal attention to the many executives we’ve sent to you has been the single greatest element in their feedback to your programs. We’ve asked you to do many programs over the years, some highly personalized, which required great sensitivity on your part and very subtle handling of executive egos. Your performance has been exceptional.”

Former President CitiCapital Transportation & Industrial Equipment

“The impact Susan had on my ‘executive presence’ and communication skills was exceptional. The skills I have learned have assisted me, not only in my current position, but also enabled me to step outside my comfort zone and advance to a higher executive role.”

Director KPMG Internal Audit Services