(CNN) -- You're doing all the obvious things: the
right education, solid experience, a good mentor. But those in the
C-Suite often confide that it's the subtle "polish" that takes the
superstar to the next level of success.
Small differences can make a big impact. What affects others'
perception of your ability to lead a project, a division, an
organization, or a movement?
Consider the following habits, attitudes, skills, and characteristics
of a leader to see how you measure up and then determine how you can
step up:
Act with integrity
Tell the truth. Practice the principles you preach. Be genuine and
sincere. It takes just one inappropriate action or comment to uncover
the counterfeit. And once credibility vanishes, regaining it becomes a
monumental task. People want to see the real you -- the integrity behind
your face, the actions behind your promises. In today's economic
landscape, trust trumps both price and track record.
Listen like you mean it
Stop whatever you're doing and look the speaker directly in the eye.
Tilt your head slightly to one side. The literal message is, "I'm giving
you an ear." Ask questions about what the speaker is saying to help
clarify thoughts and to verify that you've heard correctly and have
drawn the intended conclusions. Answer questions specifically rather
than vaguely. Take action to demonstrate that you've heard.
Benjamin Disraeli was right when he observed, "Talk to a man about
himself and he will listen for hours." The magic in this mix? He or she
will think you are a remarkable person. Listening increases likeability,
and likeability leads back to trust in you as a leader.
Commit to what you communicate
Follow through. If you say you'll make an introduction to the
potential new client, make the introduction. If you say you'll provide
the reference, give the reference. If you say you'll fund the project,
budget the money. Show up, own up, and straighten it up. In a
marketplace of mealy mouthed moochers, doing what you say will
absolutely astonish people.
Be accountable for results
Accountability implies risk and reward. You earn rewards for success;
you accept penalties for failure. By the very nature of the risk-reward
proposition, others' perception of your position and value increases.
You've heard it said that money is not the most important thing in
life. But that's easier to believe when you have enough of it to cover
your basic needs. Likewise, people measure competence in different ways,
and "enough" competence or "enough" intelligence becomes a matter of
degree. At some point, people pull you over the "enough" threshold and
begin to judge your performance on degrees of results. Delivering the
goods attracts attention and demands respect that translates into
others' perception of your leadership and executive presence.
Engage emotionally by being approachable
The combination of both competence and likeability characterizes
outstanding leaders with personal presence. You may be credible and have
others pick your brain and benefit from your work -- but choose not to
be around you if they don't have to be. On the other hand, you may be a
likeable, life-of-the-party sort whom everybody wants to hang out with.
But people may not consider you credible in challenging times for
critical information or competent performance.
The tagline "mover and shaker" comes from a metaphor -- a very visual
component of a personality trait or habit. Not only do leaders move
through many networks, work a lot of relationships, and shake their
share of hands, they literally take the lead in approaching people.
People with presence approach others confidently, act as host, make
introductions, and connect others in the group. They approach and give
attention to others.
Leaders put themselves on the frontline to serve. As a result, others
feel their presence because of the attention they give -- not receive.
People do pay attention to those with power to reward or punish them.
But they enjoy being around those who are humble, willing to serve, and
give them the proverbial time of day.
Never whine
Constant complaining characterizes losers. The habit follows those
who lack success and feel powerless to improve things for themselves. By
their very act of whining, people are admitting that they lack the
competence, character, communication skills, or commitment to improve
things. Not a good message to send.
Follow protocol in mixing business with pleasure
Because of the heavy demands on their time, leaders blend their
social and work lives, often building their personal relationships
through business contacts, and vice versa. As the old saying goes,
people do business with people they like. Be the liaison who brings
people together over lunch, a golf game, committee work, or causes.
Understand the rules of etiquette in each of these situations:
introductions; timing and appropriateness of business topics;
appropriate dress; who arrives first; who pays. It's these little things
done right that shout "class."
Act with intention. Communicate with confidence. Lead with clarity.
- Commit to what you communicate, and follow through, says Booher.
- "Delivering the goods attracts attention and demands respect," she adds
Want to be a leader? Act like one
February 7, 2012 -- Updated 1132 GMT (1932 HKT)