Leadership Skills Workshops

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲? Of all the topics people ask me about, executive presence is near the top of the list. The challenge with executive presence is that it’s hard to define. It’s not a checklist you can tick off. It’s more like taste or intuition. Some people develop it early. Others build it over time. More often, it’s a lack of context, coaching, or exposure to what “good” looks like. Here’s what I’ve learned over the years, both from getting it wrong and from watching others get it right. 1. 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 People early in their careers often feel the need to prove they know the details. But executive presence isn’t about detail. It’s about clarity. If your message would sound the same to a peer, your manager, and your CEO, you’re not tailoring it enough. Meet your audience where they are. 2. 𝐔𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Executives care about outcomes, strategy, and alignment. One of my teammates once struggled with this. Brilliant at the work, but too deep in the weeds to communicate its impact. With coaching, she learned to reframe her updates, and her influence grew exponentially. 3. 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 Every meeting has an undercurrent: past dynamics, relationships, history. Navigating this well often requires a trusted guide who can explain what’s going on behind the scenes. 4. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 Just because something is your entire world doesn’t mean others know about it. I’ve had conversations where I assumed someone knew what I was talking about, but they didn't. Context is a gift. Give it freely. 5. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 Early in my career, I brought problems to my manager. Now, I appreciate the people who bring potential paths forward. It’s not about having the perfect solution. It’s about showing you’re engaged in solving the problem. 6. 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 Every leader is solving a different set of problems. Step into their shoes. Show how your work connects to what’s top of mind for them. This is how you build alignment and earn trust. 7. 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Years ago, a founder cold emailed me. We didn’t know each other, but we were both Duke alums. That one point of connection turned a cold outreach into a real conversation. 8. 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 Before you walk into a meeting, ask yourself what outcome you’re trying to drive. Wandering conversations erode credibility. Precision matters. So does preparation. 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 Executive presence isn’t about dominating a room or having all the answers. It’s about clarity, connection, and conviction. And like any muscle, it gets stronger with intentional practice.

I got fired twice because I had poor soft skills. Then, I became VP at Amazon, where my job was more than 80% based on soft skills. This was possible because I stopped being an outspoken, judgmental critic of other people and improved my soft skills. Here are 4 areas you can improve: Soft skills are one of the main things I discuss with my coaching clients, as they are often the barrier between being a competent manager and being ready to be a true executive. Technical skills are important, but soft skills are the deciding factor between executive candidates a lot more than technical skills are. Four “soft skill” areas in which we can constantly improve are: 1) Storytelling skills Jeff Bezos said, “You can have the best technology, you can have the best business model, but if the storytelling isn’t amazing, it won’t matter.” The same is true for you as a leader. You can have the best skills or best ideas, but if you can’t communicate through powerful storytelling, no one will pay attention. 2) Writing Writing is the foundation of clear communication and clear thinking. It is the main tool for demonstrating your thinking and influencing others. The way you write will impact your influence, and therefore will impact your opportunities to grow as a leader. 3) Executive Presence Executive presence is your ability to present as someone who should be taken seriously. This includes your ability to speak, to act under pressure, and to relate to your team informally, but it goes far beyond any individual skill. Improving executive presence requires consistently evaluating where we have space to grow in our image as leaders and then addressing it. 4) Public Speaking As a leader, public speaking is inevitable. In order the get the support you need to become an executive, you must inspire confidence in your abilities and ideas through the way you speak to large, important groups of people. No one wants to give more responsibility to someone who looks uncomfortable with the amount they already have. I am writing about these 4 areas because today’s newsletter is centered around how exactly to improve these soft skills. The newsletter comes from member questions in our Level Up Newsletter community, and I answer each of them at length. I'm joined in the newsletter by my good friend, Richard Hua, a world class expert in emotional intelligence (EQ). Rich created a program at Amazon that has taught EQ to more than 500,000 people! The 4 specific questions I answer are: 1. “How do I improve my storytelling skills?” 2. “What resources or tools would you recommend to get better in writing?” 3. “What are the top 3 ways to improve my executive presence?” 4. “I am uncomfortable talking in front of large crowds and unknown people, but as I move up, I need to do this more. How do I get comfortable with this?” See the newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/gg6JXqF4 How have you improved your soft skills?

26% of your promotion depends on executive presence. But no one explains what those words really mean. "She lacks executive presence" might be the most frustrating feedback ever. Because it's rarely followed by what to actually do about it. I've coached hundreds of leaders through this exact challenge. Here are 7 ways to build executive presence: 1. Practise Strategic Silence ↳ Leaders who listen first command more respect ↳ Ask: "What are your thoughts?" - then pause 2. Simplify Complex Ideas ↳ Complex language often masks insecurity ↳ Replace jargon with everyday language 3. Calibrate Your Reactions ↳ Overreacting undermines your credibility ↳ Ask yourself: "Will this matter in 6 months?" 4. Bring Solutions, Not Just Problems ↳ Leaders are remembered for solving problems ↳ Never raise an issue without at least one solution 5. Own Your Authority ↳ Undermining phrases erase years of hard work ↳ Remove words that weaken your message: "just," "kind of," "I think maybe" 6. Own the Room ↳ Your physical presence speaks before you do ↳ Sit tall and take up your full space at the table 7. Expand Your Influence Beyond Your Role ↳ Broader influence gets you bigger opportunities ↳ Volunteer for cross-functional projects Executive presence isn't about changing who you are. It’s about showing up as your real, confident self. ♻️ Repost to help your network ➕ Follow Dora Vanourek for more

Most people chase “executive presence.” Ironically, that chase is exactly what keeps them from having it. When someone says, “𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦,” they are rarely talking about style, charisma, or polish. They are reacting to a pattern of behavior they’ve experienced over time. Here’s what they usually mean: • She listens deeply • She communicates with purpose • She brings unique insight • She stays steady under pressure • She makes hard calls — and owns them • She brings clarity to ambiguity • She trusts her judgment without ego • She shows strength through vulnerability • She lifts others rather than outshining them That’s the point: “Executive presence” isn’t one thing. It’s an aggregation of many behaviors done consistently and well. If you want to build it, you don’t need charisma. You need habits. Here are 7 ways to start building executive presence today: 𝟭/ 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 Trust your experience. Speak less, say more. 𝟮/ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 Listen to understand. Be clear, concise, and deliberate. 𝟯/ 𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 Pause before you react. Poise beats perfection. 𝟰/ 𝗕𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 Presence grows when you stop performing and start being real. 𝟱/ 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 Think long-term. Add insight others miss. 𝟲/ 𝗕𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 Make the call. Explain your reasoning. Own the outcome. 𝟳/ 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 Create clarity of direction — and belief in possibility. Executive presence isn’t built by performing. It’s built by alignment — between who you are, what you say, and how you act. When that alignment is consistent, presence takes care of itself. What behavior would you add to the list? ----- Follow me, tap the (🔔) Omar Halabieh for Leadership and Career posts.

Ever felt that post-workshop high? But you wonder if it translates to lasting change? Here's a 5 step process for real impact We've been there. You finish a workshop. Everyone leaves buzzing. Your feedback scores are through the roof. But was it... A "sugar rush" or "nutrient rich" experience? In the 21 years of running sessions in different contexts, I've realised there is a way to deliver energising workshops AND provide lasting value. → 𝗦𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 Participants leave excited. High feedback scores. Temporary motivation. No real change in behaviour. → 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 Participants leave with a plan. Lower immediate excitement (perhaps). Content is processed. Lasting behaviour change. We want to the latter. And here's how: 1️⃣ SET THE CONTEXT ↳ Uncover challenges and hopes ahead of time. Meet people where they're at to unfold what happens next. 2️⃣ ENGAGE DEEPLY ↳ Ensure participants are not just passive listeners. Design for interactivity and cater of different styles 3️⃣ PLAN FOR ACTION ↳ Help them develop a concrete plan to implement what they've learned. Conduct debriefs. Give an action plan. 4️⃣ FOLLOW UP ↳ Provide post-workshop support and resources. Pre-design with the sponsor even if you're not involved in the implementation. 5️⃣ MEASURE IMPACT ↳ Go beyond feedback forms. Capture a baseline, collect evidence in sessions & track outcomes over time. Remember, the true measure of success is not how high your feedback scores are. It's the lasting impact you have on your participants. Let's move away from sugar-rush workshops and towards nutrient-rich consultancies. ~~ ✍️ What do you do to ensure your workshops have a lasting impact? ♻️ Reshare if you found this useful

When I started managing teams in the Civil Service, I had no idea how my leadership style impacted those around me. It took a senior manager pulling me aside to point out that my approach was affecting team morale before I started paying attention. Over my 30+ years of leading teams, I've learned that understanding your natural leadership style is critical—not so you can put yourself in a box but so you can flex and adapt when needed. In my latest article, I break down different leadership styles and share practical tips on: - How to identify your natural style - When to adapt your approach - Real examples of leadership styles in action - Common traps that can trip up even experienced managers - A 4-week action plan to develop your leadership Leadership isn't about changing who you are - it's about growing into the best version of yourself as a leader. Read the full newsletter below ⬇️ #leadership #management #personaldevelopment #teammanagement

Short Leadership Story: How Missing Out on Key Influencers can Delay Success Before the coaching engagement, Ravi an Executive Director at a global tech firm, faced significant challenges that hindered his strategic initiatives and impactful outcomes. Ravi's Challenges: 1. Relying on Official Titles: Ravi initially depended on the formal organizational chart to identify decision-makers, missing key behind-the-scenes influencers. 2. Limited Networking Beyond His Function: His networking was confined to his own function, limiting his insights into broader organizational dynamics. 3. Overlooking Informal Communication Channels: Ravi relied primarily on formal meetings and official communications, missing crucial insights from informal interactions like coffee breaks and social events. The Coaching Journey When Ravi approached me for coaching, we embarked on a journey to enhance his executive presence and uncover hidden influencers within his organization. Here's how we did it: Step 1: Awareness & Reflection We started by raising Ravi’s awareness of the limitations of relying solely on official titles and hierarchical structures. Through reflective exercises and insightful discussions, Ravi realized the importance of looking beyond formal roles to uncover true influence and leadership, enhancing his executive presence. Step 2: Presence & Skill Development Next, we focused on honing Ravi’s observational skills and his ability to decipher communication patterns. I provided frameworks and tools to analyze meeting dynamics, identify influential behaviors, and decode subtle messages in informal communications, further strengthening his executive presence. Step 3: Relationship-Building Strategies Finally, we devised strategies for Ravi to expand his network beyond his department. We identified key stakeholders and functions critical to his strategic initiatives. Through practical exercises and role-playing scenarios, Ravi practiced initiating conversations, fostering rapport, and building meaningful relationships with influencers across the organization. Transformation and Impact Ravi's journey of self-awareness, skill development, and strategic relationship-building led to a profound transformation. His newfound insights not only elevated his executive presence but also empowered him to drive significant outcomes, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. As his coach, witnessing Ravi’s growth and impact was immensely gratifying. His success underscores the transformative power of executive presence coaching in unlocking leadership potential and achieving strategic goals. Reflective Questions: 1. Are you truly aware of the key influencers in your organization? 2. How can you apply these principles to enhance your own leadership journey and organizational influence while strengthening your executive presence? #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #OrganizationalInfluence #StrategicLeadership #BusinessImpact #ExecutivePresence

Sharing an approach I’ll be using to kick off the facilitation of an HSE Leaders Forum tomorrow that I hope others might find valuable. Instead of starting with the usual introductions (name, job role etc), I want to focus on the reason we are there: discussing innovative ways to solve the challenges participants are facing in their workplaces or industries. Each participant will introduce themselves by sharing a challenge framed as a "How Might We?" (HMW) statement. This simple method encourages participants to: 1️⃣ Clarify the Challenge: Turning a health and safety challenge into an opportunity helps focus the conversation on possibility. 2️⃣ Spark Collaboration: Open-ended, opportunity-focused challenges invite diverse perspectives and ideas. 3️⃣ Create Immediate Value: Sharing key challenges helps everyone see where they can contribute and connect meaningfully - on the things that matter. "How might we better communicate critical risk management expectations with subcontractors?" "How might we reduce working at height activities in our business?" "How might we assure critical risk controls in real-time?" I’ve found this approach aligns discussions with what really matters, and leaves participants with actionable insights. If you’re planning a collaborative session, this could be a great way to shift from introductions to impactful conversations right from the start. Feel free to adapt this for your own forums or workshops; I’d love to hear how it works for you and if you have any other facilitation tips. #SafetyTech #SafetyInnovation #Facilitation #Learning

In executive search, I’ve seen leaders win (and lose) game-changing opportunities based on one thing: how they show up. You could have the right experience, the best metrics, and a glowing résumé…But if your presence doesn’t communicate leadership, trust, and influence? You’re not getting the role. That’s why I’m a big fan of Gartner’s Executive Presence Wheel of Influence—because it breaks presence into what it truly is: Image → What people believe about your reputation Impressions → How you make people feel through your tone, clarity, and energy Impact → The legacy of your interactions—what changes because of you Leaders with strong executive presence are 76% more likely to be promoted than those without it. (Source: Center for Talent Innovation) Yet, executive presence isn’t just about how you look-it’s about how you influence. The 3 Pillars of Executive Presence: If you want to lead, inspire, and command a room, you need to master these: 1. Image: What people think about you -Your reputation, credibility, and personal brand shape how others perceive your leadership. Executives with a strong brand are 45% more likely to be trusted by their teams. (Source: Edelman Trust Barometer) 2. Impressions: How people feel about you - Your body language, tone, and communication set the tone for how others react to you. * A study by Harvard Business Review found that 55% of executive presence comes from how you communicate. 3. Impact: What people do because of you - Leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room—it’s about inspiring action. Companies led by influential leaders see 37% higher employee engagement. (Source: Gallup) When I mentor senior leaders, I often ask: 🟠 Do you project clarity under pressure? 🟠 Are you leaving your team inspired or just informed? 🟠 Does your personal brand match how people experience you? How to Strengthen Your Executive Presence Today -Build a strong reputation – Be known for something specific in your industry -Refine your communication – Clarity, confidence, and storytelling matter - Create lasting impact – Lead with authenticity, inspire action, and be remembered Executive presence can be taught. It can be shaped. And it can be mastered. But it requires self-awareness, feedback, and most importantly—practice. Let’s normalize talking about this. Your title might get you in the room—but your presence decides if people will follow your lead. #ExecutiveSearch #LeadershipDevelopment #Mentorship #ExecutivePresence #CareerGrowth #LSInternational

No one tells you how invisible you can feel in high-level meetings. You’re smart. You’ve done the work. But in the room with senior leaders? It’s like your presence disappears. You second guess when to speak. You wonder if your updates land. You leave calls thinking: Did I even make an impression? I’ve been there. And here’s what helped me shift from passive observer to recognized leader without waiting for a promotion. 7 daily habits that built my executive presence: 1. Be clear and concise Make your point in 30 seconds or less. 2. Have your camera on Presence starts by being seen visually and mentally. 3. Speak early Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment. Set the tone by jumping in early. 4. Own your introduction Go beyond title. Show purpose: “I lead [X] and focus on [Y goal].” 5. Ask one strategic question a day Not to impress to challenge. “What’s the biggest risk we’re not seeing?” 6. Master one-liner updates Think: “Revenue up 8%, driven by retention. Risks: churn and spend.” 7. Close conversations with intent Always clarify next steps or ownership. “What’s next?” is a power move. None of this is about faking confidence. It’s about acting with confidence to show them the the leader you already are Before anyone gives you the title. ♻️ Share to help someone who needs to hear this