Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Executive Presence summary
Sylvia Ann Hewlett
The Missing Link Between Merit and Success
17 mins
Brief summary
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett is a guidebook for professionals who want to improve their leadership skills. The book offers practical advice on how to develop presence, command respect, communicate effectively, and lead with authority.
Topics
Table of Contents
Executive Presence
Summary of 7 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 7
If you aspire to success, you’ll need to develop executive presence.
How can you rise to a top position or gain a significant following if you can’t convince the world that you are the real deal? To put it bluntly: you can’t.
Whether you’re a banker, a salesperson or a musician, having executive presence is a precondition for success. It’s a mixture of qualities that demonstrate that you are in command, or at least deserve to be. Executive presence alone is the make-or-break factor.
The author regularly attends the final auditions of the Concert Artist Guild’s international competition. There a huge pool of applicants is narrowed to just 12 talented young musicians who then compete before a very distinguished jury.
Of course, these young finalists wouldn’t have made it to the final round if they weren’t outstanding in their musical craft. But in the finals, what separates one finalist from the next has little to do with music.
So what is that special trait that makes a person stand apart?
Guild president Richard Weinert revealed that the key is in the way an artist walks across the stage; the way her clothes are cut; the spark in her eyes and the emotion written on her face.
A recent study also demonstrates the importance of executive presence in the music world. Fascinatingly enough, people who were shown silent videos of pianists performing in international competitions were better at picking out the actual winners than those who watched the videos and could hear the music, too. That’s a powerful example of executive presence at work.
And it’s no different in the workplace. The author’s research team at the Center for Talent Innovation conducted a national survey to map out the traits that make up executive presence.
The results? Executive presence appears to be based on three pillars: the way you act (gravitas), the way you speak (communication) and finally, the way you look (appearance).
Want to see all full key ideas from Executive Presence?
Key ideas in Executive Presence
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Executive Presence about?
Executive Presence (2014) reveals the essential components of a true leader. From attitude to communication to appearance, today’s most influential leaders share practical tips and examples to guide you in creating a powerful, convincing presence everyday.
Executive Presence Review
Executive Presence (2014) is a valuable book for individuals looking to enhance their leadership skills and make a lasting impact. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It provides practical strategies and techniques to develop and exude a strong executive presence, allowing individuals to confidently navigate the business world.
- Through compelling case studies and interviews with successful professionals, the book demonstrates how cultivating executive presence can positively influence career growth and advancement.
- With its insightful analysis of the key components of executive presence, such as appearance, communication, and gravitas, the book keeps readers engaged and motivated to improve their own presence.
Best quote from Executive Presence
I dont believe Ive ever been able to judge or trust a person unless I can see what theyre like under fire. – Bob Dudley
—Sylvia Ann Hewlett
Who should read Executive Presence?
- Leaders looking to brush up their presentation skills
- Employees interested in what it takes to climb the corporate ladder
- Managers seeking to engage their teams more effectively
Categories with Executive Presence
Book summaries like Executive Presence
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
37 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Executive Presence FAQs
What is the main message of Executive Presence?
Executive Presence teaches us how to project confidence, command respect, and achieve big career goals.
How long does it take to read Executive Presence?
The reading time for Executive Presence varies, but the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Executive Presence a good book? Is it worth reading?
Executive Presence is worth reading as it offers valuable insights and practical advice for developing a strong professional image and advancing your career.
Who is the author of Executive Presence?
Sylvia Ann Hewlett is the author of Executive Presence.
What to read after Executive Presence?
If you're wondering what to read next after Executive Presence, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Charismatic Leadership by Kevin Murray
- Presence by Amy Cuddy
- What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith
- Willful Blindness by Margaret Heffernan
- Triggers by Marshall Goldsmith and Mark Reiter
- The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
- The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone
- Leadership is Half the Story by Marc Hurwitz and Samantha Hurwitz
- The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma
- The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene