Valerie Sokolosky of Valerie and Company joined the North Texas Commission for a Topic: North Texas webinar on July 22 as we discussed executive presence as a leadership strategy and an essential tool for building long-lasting business relationships that result in revenue growth.
In order to compete in the current business environment, research shows that executives must be clear about how they are perceived as a strong brand. As a certified PCC executive coach of 25 years and one of only 20 Master Brand Strategists worldwide, Valerie shares her Best Practices from real-world experiences taken from her Blue Chip list of client companies.
Valerie Sokolosky has earned respect in her field as a sought after consultant in more than 60 Fortune 500 companies. An author of 8 books, she founded her leadership development firm 25 years ago specializing in developing emerging leaders and those in the C suite to have a strong executive presence and personal brand. Valerie holds distinctions including one of 20 Master Brand Strategists worldwide and an ICF certified executive coach. As a trusted advisor, she is relied upon in companies that are focused on developing their leaders. One of her greatest joys over the past eight years coaching Partners in one of the big 4 financial services firms to build their brand and exude their executive presence.
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Who Has a Presence You Admire?
Think of someone you know.
What words describe him / her?
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Executive Presence:
What’s Your Brand?
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Three Dimensions: Authentic
Appearance
LOOK
Behaviors
ACT
Communication
TALK
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A Woman with
Presence! An Authentic
Brand
Colleen Barrett – President Emeritus SW Airlines
Colleen Barrett is the President Emeritus of Southwest
Airlines. She joined Southwest in 1978, having previously
worked for several years as founder Herb Kelleher's
executive assistant at his law firm. She has served as
Secretary of the Corporation, as Vice President
Administration from 1986 through 1990, and Executive
Vice President from 1990 through 2001. Barrett has been
consistently named and recognized as one of the most
powerful American businesswomen. In October, 2007, she
received the Tony Jannus Award for distinguished
achievement in commercial air transportation.
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“We sell ourselves first -
then we earn the right to sell
and deliver our services.”
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES SPIRIT QUIZ
Email me for free copy
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The History of Personal Branding
William
Arruda
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Branding Truth #1
• Branding is not spin…It’s based in authenticity
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Branding Truth #2
• Branding is all about differentiation
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Commodity
Generic-competes on price
Brand-UPV
Branding Truth #3:
Branding is an experience
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First Impressions
Appearance "opens the door and gets you invited in. If you are
not invited in, no one will know how much you can add.”
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“Executive Presence may be difficult to define, but we all know it when we see it.
It’s the little things that count.”
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First Impressions
• How much education you’ve had
• How much you can be trusted
• How dependable and accountable you are
• How intelligent you are
• What your work ethic is
• Your personality style and how agreeable you are
• How much money you make
• How confident you are
JUDGEMENTS PEOPLE MAKE
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New study confirms that how you dress affects you!
Adam D. Galinsky, a professor at the Kellogg School of
Management at Northwestern University, who led the study.
It has long been
known that “clothing
affects how other
people perceive us as
well as how we think
about ourselves.”
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How do you travel to meetings?
Your Image Counts!
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Image Spoilers
1. Careless grooming - nails, cleanliness, breath, dandruff
2. Clothing too tight, wrinkled, soiled or needing repair
3. Lack of attention to details - missing button, frayed collar, unraveled hem
4. Overrun heels or scuffed shoes
5. Visible tattoos or facial piercing
6. Too much perfume / cologne
7. Outdated hair style / comb-overs
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Do you leave
your mark on
everything you
do?
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In Summary
• Strive for Executive Presence
• Your Brand is the only constant
• Authenticity: BE a human BEING, not just a
human doing!
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Thank you
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