An enterprise specialised in personal elocution coaching, Quints Diction & Social Polish Academy, trained over 500 youths on strategies to circumvent their growth curve at the workplace or in their career in its maiden executive presence conference.
The conference, held recently in Lagos featured thought leaders from different walks of life, as keynote speakers and panelists.
It was designed to empower career professionals, executives, graduates and undergraduates alike with the soft skills required to give them an edge in their chosen careers.
Ayanfeoluwa Wole-ojo, the convener of the conference and lead coach at Quints Diction & Social Polish Academy in her welcome address said executive presence is the missing link between success and merit.
According to her, “Executive presence is a skill you can cultivate and build and it also determines whether you gain access to opportunities.
“Executive presence is made up of three key components: gravitas, communication, and appearance.”
In addition, she said; “Gravitas refers to the level of respect you command from others, which demonstrates your ability to inspire confidence in those you work with and in your superiors.”
Wole-Ojo further explained that the second component of executive presence is communication and emotional intelligence which plays a significant role in one’s ability to effectively communicating with others.
Besides, said that appearance is the third component and that it implies that one’s outward appearance can have a significant impact on how others perceive you.
“It is essential to maintain a polished and professional appearance at all times; always looking your best,” she said.
Also at the event, Mavi Isibor, founder of Poise Nigeria, spoke on professional appearance.
“Always dress as if opportunity will meet you on that day,” Isibor said. “I have seen quite a few people that even if they have intellectual capacity, it will be difficult for opportunities to stop,” she said.
Furthermore, she cited research from Stanford University to nail home her point.
People interface with you based on three categories; your choice of words take 7 percent of why and how people speak with you; your tone or vocal quality choice of words take 38 percent; while your physical appearance, posture, and stance take 55 percent.
“When you sum physical appearance (55) and your tone of communication (38), that is 93 percent; it has absolutely nothing to do with your intellectual capacity yet we spend most of the time on the 7 percent, acquiring knowledge and certificates, while ignoring the 93 percent,” she said.
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Olasunkanmi Adenuga, director of workforce learning who was one of the keynote speakers said no one succeed by knowing rather people succeed by doing.
“In your efforts to build executive presence, be aware that there are three non-negotiable things namely know your gap, own the gap and close the gap,” Adenuga said.
Abraham Durosawo, head of investment banking at ARM speaking during the panel session encouraged the audience to have a solution-oriented mindset
“Everybody you meet everyday is looking for someone to add value to them.
Be a problem solver irrespective of who you are or what your (education) background is. Every barrier you have set in your mind is not valid,” Durosawo said.
The conference also featured the launch of Wole-Ojo’s latest book titled ‘Executive Presence: Positioning for Career Acceleration’, written as a guide for career professionals, entrepreneurs, and business executives to exude and embody executive presence, with the ultimate goal of reaching the top.
