The Situation:
How to change a perception
Sarah came to me because she had been told that senior leadership was concerned about her leadership presence. They felt she had all of the technical skills but were uncertain whether she could appropriately interact with the Board of Directors and be the face of the organization.
The Solution and Action Plan:
When Sarah called me, she was clearly surprised about the feedback. We met for lunch because it was important for us to have a plan and I wanted to be clear that this would be a partnership between us.
We first took a video of her speaking and asked her to decide what she felt needed strengthening. We ended up focusing on management of her personal brand. What did she want senior leadership to perceive about her when she walked into a room? Did she project confident leadership and a positive presence? How did she interact with those around her?
The Outcome:
Sarah aced her interview with the senior leaders. The Board of Directors, also, clearly liked what they saw. In fact, they were amazed at how comfortable she appeared when interacting with them. Sarah answered some very challenging questions about how she viewed important organizational issues.
Always keep your smile. That’s how I explain my long life. Jeanne Calment