07/01/2014
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. VERDICT Though the substance is on the lighter side, this title is worthwhile for aspiring heads of institutions who seek to understand the blunders to avoid and what to focus on to curate an impactful presence.—Laurel Tacoma, Strayer Univ. Lib., Washington, DC
03/31/2014
Economist Hewlett argues that understanding the bias in the workplace against women and minorities is part of overcoming the bias, and that overcoming it can pay huge dividends to your career. Furthermore, as Hewlett notes: “When companies and leaders know how to harness and leverage gender, generation, ethnicity, race, culture, and nationality, there is a significant impact on the bottom line.” Hewlett shows how to achieve success through attention to appearance, speech, manner, and authenticity—a combination of elements that make up “executive presence.” The author describes how Margaret Thatcher moderated a voice perceived as shrill and earned the increased gravitas that helped her achieve political success. A financial analyst who switched from jeans and T-shirts to tailored slacks and blazers was given oversight over a major project. Meanwhile Marissa Meyer “showed she had the chops” when she changed Yahoo’s telecommuting policy, “but, regrettably, it also showed a leader out of touch with the realities other working parents contend with.” Hewlett argues that neither ruthlessness nor conforming to the dominant culture makes a great leader; rather, it’s most important to find comfort in your own skin. Hewlett’s approach is straightforward and anecdotal. A solid guide for those looking to take their career to the next level. Agent: Molly Friedrich, Friedrich Agency. (June)
Whether you’re an established leader or an up-and-coming star, this book will transform your prospects for advancement. Pithily written, laden with vivid stories, and grounded in hard data that spans 2012 to 2022, Executive Presence 2.0 demonstrates how to master the intangibles of leadership in our post-pandemic world where inclusion, authenticity, and mastery of virtual collaboration are key to business success.” — Tiger Tyagarajan, Chairman and CEO, Genpact
“Sylvia Ann Hewlett’s excellent book is an inspiring and practical guide for professionals seeking to crack the EP code. I particularly value her data-driven approach and the weight she gives to challenging issues of identity and authenticity in corporate contexts. Executive Presence 2.0 provides a timely roadmap to navigate the complexities in today’s ever-evolving hybrid work environment.” — Erika Irish Brown, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer and Global Head of Talent, Citi
“Executive Presence 2.0 by Sylvia Ann Hewlett is immensely valuable, deftly solving some of the most significant barriers that impede the advancement of professionals of color in the corporate world. Her treatment of conscious and unconscious bias and her guidance on how to give and take unvarnished feedback across lines of gender, race, and sexual orientation are particularly powerful.” — Kennedy Ihezie, Head of Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, AIG
“As a venture capitalist, I seek to identify the rare qualities that allow visionaries to create breakthrough innovation, build world-class teams and achieve rapid scale. This book provides state-of-the-art guidance. Hewlett shows how and why projecting gravitas and displaying an unwavering commitment to inclusive leadership are powerful traits for entrepreneurs to cultivate on the challenging journey from start-up founder to leading a large private or public company.” — Andrea Turner Moffitt, Co-founder, Plum Alley Investments
“Executive Presence 2.0 is inspiring and immensely concrete. Today both seasoned and up-and-coming leaders are expected to project inclusively and authenticity, show up on social media, and lead through a screen. Sylvia Ann Hewlett’s splendid book creates a blueprint and actional path to develop these urgent skills.” — Elizabeth Nieto, Head of Equity and Impact, Spotify
“For two decades, Sylvia Ann Hewlett has set the standard for cutting-edge research that goes far beyond data and analytics but tells a story digestible and deployable for leaders at every level. I’ve worked with Sylvia and seen her impact on the hundreds of CEOs who partner with Out Leadership worldwide. The importance of her work on Executive Presence cannot be overstated.” — Todd Sears, Founder and CEO, Out Leadership
“A solid guide for those looking to take their career to the next level” — Publishers Weekly
“This is a powerful and urgent book for young professionals climbing the ladder. Credentials alone will not get you the next big opportunity, you also need Executive Presence - the ability to signal confidence and credibility. ” — Aberdeen Press & Journal [Scotland]
In this significant book, Sylvia Ann Hewlett challenges the conventional wisdom that executive presence is an innate quality that can barely be defined, much less developed. Anyone seeking to close the gap between their merit and their success could benefit from her practical, engaging, and humane advice.
Sylvia Ann Hewlett is once again leading the way by examining a critical component of business success, Executive Presence. She is a master at making a vague topic clear. She demystifies the meaning of Executive Presence and provides tangible, practical advice that readers can easily use to lift their game.
Sylvia Ann Hewlett’s book is essential reading for anyone striving to minimize the gap between how others perceive you and how you want to be seen. Executive Presence will transforms careers and unleash a current of previously untapped potential on the world.
Sylvia Ann Hewlett has taken some of the mystery out of the claim that “you just don’t have what it takes” in this groundbreaking book on Executive Presence. This book provides a simple guide that will help you crack the code to career success.
Sylvia Ann Hewlett has put together the complete play book for high potential employees eager to develop the executive presence skills that will propel them to the top. In this book Hewlett explains what EP is, and how to get it. It’s real, pragmatic and brilliant!
This is a powerful and urgent book for young professionals climbing the ladder. Credentials alone will not get you the next big opportunity, you also need Executive Presence - the ability to signal confidence and credibility.
Sylvia Ann Hewlett is once again leading the way by examining a critical component of business success, Executive Presence. She is a master at making a vague topic clear. She demystifies the meaning of Executive Presence and provides tangible, practical advice that readers can easily use to lift their game.
