S.M.A.R.T. Performance "A Leaders Blueprint to Sustainable Success!" · Walter Dusseldorp, FACHE, MBA, LSSBB

S.M.A.R.T.-Performance Podcast with Jill Avey focused on Executive Presence

·20 min·2 clips

Jill reveals the three critical components of executive presence that shape first impressions in just nine seconds.

This episode of the S.M.A.R.T. Performance Podcast focuses on building executive presence, with a particular lens on challenges faced by women in leadership. Host Walter, "The Dutch Mentor," interviews executive coach Jill Avey, who brings nine years of coaching experience and a prior corporate career as a VP of marketing. Jill references Sylvia Ann Hewlett's model of executive presence, which breaks it down into appearance, gravitas, and communication. She explains that appearance acts as a critical first filter, with "polish" being a key element that telegraphs self-respect. Jill notes Hewlett's updated research found authenticity and integrity have grown in importance relative to pure appearance. She details how executive presence translates to virtual settings, emphasizing being on camera, ensuring good lighting and framing, and considering one's background. For in-person meetings, Jill advises physically taking up space, projecting one's voice, and using strategic questions to contribute value. She shares specific advice from a lawyer client who is small in stature on avoiding shrinking one's physical presence. A surprising insight is that people rarely notice if you rotate through a limited set of pre-planned professional outfits, a tactic Jill used to streamline morning decisions. She reveals research from interviewing 40 CEOs, finding women with strong support systems worked regular hours and had lower anxiety compared to those without. Jill argues a support system must extend beyond a single mentor to include multiple mentors, sponsors, peers, and allies within an organization. She stresses the importance of building and maintaining a network proactively, not just when seeking a new job. The conversation highlights that a leader's internal sense of belonging significantly impacts their external energetic presence. The tone is conversational and instructional, blending personal anecdotes with practical frameworks. The style is supportive and action-oriented, offering direct tips for immediate application. Listeners interested in practical leadership development, especially women navigating corporate advancement, would find concrete value in this episode. Those seeking a deep, critical analysis of systemic barriers to executive presence might find the discussion more focused on individual adaptation.

As heard by us

A quick reset on executive presence, trust, and showing up with purpose.

Walter and Jill present executive presence as something concrete, not mystical: how a leader carries themself, how they speak, and whether people trust the room they create. The episode stays useful by keeping the advice practical. Go in prepared. Say something that matters.

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Why you'd press play

Need executive presence without the corporate fluff?

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