Executive Presence: The Missing Link Between Merit and Success

What sets leaders apart from other workers and makes people trust, promote, and listen to them? According to Hewlett (Forget a Mentor, Find a Sponsor: The New Way to Fast-Track Your Career), it is executive presence (EP). She writes that EP is a mix of gravitas, communication, and appearance, and that cracking this code is essential to being perceived as a leader. Hewlett examines each of these three components and offers practical advice, as well as a list of common gaffes that undermine a person's authority. Each chapter is filled with interviews and examples of people across multiple spheres of influence, such as political figures, company executives, and Hollywood stars. Hewlett includes a chapter specifically aimed at women, examining the narrow band of acceptability that female leaders have with the three components of EP and how to best navigate the tightrope. Similarly, for people whose identity isn't of the straight, white-male model, she discusses how to strike the balance between conformity and authenticity in a corporate world.