Navigating the path to leadership in business can be challenging, especially for those aspiring to make their mark in competitive environments. For professional women, building a strong presence and showcasing their expertise are key to unlocking opportunities and driving growth.
Thriving in today’s dynamic business world requires not just skill but also involves collaborating with your organization to network strategically and cultivating your personal brand to establish a visible and credible professional presence. We spoke with Dr. Marlene Wolfgruber, Product Marketing Lead – AI at ABBYY, to explore some of the ways to practically enhance your executive presence.
Master confident communication
Communication is everything in business. The first step for women looking to build their presence is investing in professional rhetoric training to learn how to most impactfully articulate ideas.
Nowadays, meetings can be in person or virtual, and networking opportunities can be informal or formal – it’s important to effectively adapt your communication style to different audiences. Training can help you harness the use of tone, body language, and active listening to inspire trust and connection with other business leaders and stakeholders.
Being in an environment that encourages the growth of communication skills is invaluable. Ideally, your workplace will allow for balance between autonomy and teamwork, creating the space for flexibility and creativity.
Demonstrate strategic thinking
Strategic thinking is the best way to show managers that you are consistently thinking about identifying opportunities and anticipating challenges, allowing you to step into a role that aligns decisions with orgaisational goals. One simple way to demonstrate strategic skills is by staying informed about industry trends and emerging opportunities. These insights can be used to identify and present new opportunities, positioning you as a visionary leader.
When considering a role, prioritising the values of the company you work at is key for developing strategic leadership. Working with a company that provides opportunities to take on new challenges, while being part of a talented, diverse team, can expand perspectives and deepen expertise.
Foster meaningful connections
Taking the time to advocate for inclusion and create spaces where diverse perspectives are valued can be useful for building your business presence, whilst improving the business experience for all. Build a strong network by connecting with mentors, peers, and industry leaders. Working for a business with an amazing network of talent, and actively works to connect these individuals, is key.Â
Working within a business where your contributions are celebrated will empower you to experiment with innovation as you grow your presence.
You can also increase your visibility through actively participating in professional communities, and establishing a pipeline of thought leadership both internally and externally.4. Exhibit strong decision making and accountability
It is important to make sound, evidence-based decisions, but perhaps even more important is demonstrating accountability while doing it. Take ownership of outcomes, whether successes or failures, to build trust among peers and business leaders. It is also important to consider diverse perspectives when decision-making, to ensure outcomes are right for everyone.
Gaining support for your decisions requires staying calm and confident, even in the face of uncertainty or high-pressure situations. Trust in the reasoning and evidence behind your choices and stand firm in your convictions while remaining open to alternative perspectives from others.
Cultivate emotional intelligence
Recognizing and managing our emotions is crucial in our personal lives, but developing emotional intelligence in the workplace is equally important to maintaining professionalism, fostering better relationships, and supporting effective communication.
Emotional awareness can be leveraged across all parts of business, from navigating conflicts to fostering collaboration. It’s a crucial tool to have in your belt when looking to build a business presence, with a study by US psychologist Daniel Goleman finding that 90% of the differences between high and average performing leaders can be attributed to emotional intelligence.
We can all benefit from working on develop empathy to understand others’ perspectives and build stronger relationships both in the workplace and out of it.
Women in business often face challenges that also create opportunities for growth. By utilizing training resources, building networks, and leveraging emotional intelligence, women can enhance their business presence. This not only helps them overcome barriers but also contributes to fostering a more inclusive and equitable workplace for everyone.
