Young Economists Drinks Exchange - 23rd February 2012

I am delighted to be here this evening.  Thank you for the invitation from your President to speak to you.

My short talk is about how it is never too early in your career as economists to build your executive presence. 

First, let me explain what the term "executive presence" means.  It is more than building your personal brand or how you market yourself.  That is perfectly valid.  But executive presence is broader than personal branding and it particularly looks at how you are perceived by others you work with as well as those you interact with externally to your organisation.

To explain it, every single day, we are all being judged by our fellows in three ways:  how we look, how we behave and how we speak.  I will use the acronym  of  L - A - W which is easy to remember.

L is for how you look, your personal presentation (your attire, your shoes) and grooming

A is for how you act, your behaviours, your choices, strategic networking is certainly part of it

W is for words, the words you choose to use in different forums, in formal meetings, informal social gatherings like this one, when you present to a senior Board or perhaps in a forum like the senior public servants who you see on television being grilled in forums like the Senate Estimates hearing.

Why does this matter if you are really great economists and turn up to work most days and get your graphs, statistics and reports in on time?

It doesn't matter if you want to keep doing what you're doing now; that is perfectly fine.  Not everyone has the desire to become a senior manager or executive leader.

But if your career goals are to be in a senior executive role before you're 35, then yes L A W does matter a great deal.

Has everyone heard of Doug McTaggart?  Doug is the CEO of QIC and has been since 1998 - so 14 years at the top there.  Previously senior public servant Under Treasurer of Department of Treasury, prior to that senior academic at Bond University and PhD from the University of Chicago. Doug has published a lot of research and has also co-authored economic textbooks that many of you would have studied in your degrees.  He's a very sought-after speaker at top conferences and institutes.

Doug has executive presence in spades.

Here are 10 ways that you as young economists can start building a strong executive presence, in other words your leadership profile:

10 Ways You Can Stand Out as a Leader

1. In meetings in the workplace, be the first to speak on a topic when the Chairman opens it up for general discussion.  If you don't speak up at all, you will be close to invisible.  You are not seen to be adding value.  But if you are the FIRST and LAST to talk, you will be remembered as a strong contributor after the meeting is over, especially by senior managers.

2. Look around your organisation and industry for a successful leader whom you admire.  Invite her or him to be a mentor.  This is a great way to learn direct from someone whose reputation and achievements you wish to emulate in your own career.

3. Learn to be a confident public speaker.  Do a group presentation skills course and then get heaps of practice. The secret to becoming confident in this space is getting the practice in.  Volunteer to be the presenter at your organisation's next client breakfast, or prepare a paper, submit it and present it at an Industry conference.

4. At the next Business breakfast or luncheon you attend, be the one to get to your feet and ask an insightful question for the keynote speaker when invited to do so.  You will be visible to all as someone who is really listening and thinking about the topic as well as someone who is a self-assured professional.

5. Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.  Choose a role model who will be a more senior person in your organisation or externally, someone who has a sense of style and presence.  Adapt your own style accordingly.

6. Develop yourself as The Guru in your specialist field of economics.  You can become the person who gets into print about your topic in your professional magazine or website and/or start writing a blog.  Over time, you can become the person who is the acknowledged expert in your specialty area.  You will be the one the media rings to ask for comments or interviews.

7. Are your professional memberships working well for you?  Select one of your memberships and get more involved by joining a committee or taking on an honorary position.

8. Consider joining a membership organisation outside of your profession or discipline that will expose you to new people, different ideas and will stretch your mind and your network enabling you to increase your sphere of influence.

9. Read outside of your own discipline to develop a good general knowledge which is beneficial to your becoming an interesting and interested conversationalist across a range of situations.

10. Being a good conversationalist in formal and social situations is about having some questions to ask and then listening as people respond happily to your "small talk".  Ask them about themselves, their profession, their organisation, their sporting interests, their next holiday and they will think you're a fantastic conversationalist.

Thank you and all the very best to you all in building your executive presence.


Lynne Lloyd
Managing Director
People Results
Tel:  07 3910 1003
Executive Coaching
Talent Development
www.peopleresults.com.au

People Results has a range of talent development short programs for professionals, managers and executives including our popular half-day program, Executive Presence, which is offered as an in-house program or regularly throughout the year as a public program.  You can contact us on enquiries@peopleresults.com.au for more information.