Posts by Clare Hefferren

How do you recognize executive presence? Have you ever been in a meeting or chatting where one participant stood out? Where personal engagement level, clarity of thought and expression deemed them exceptional? You were likely witnessing executive presence in action. Several attributes consistently characterize the very best executive presence. They encompass interpersonal engagement skills that…

Dress codes are really vague. Most senior company leaders say that they understand that the days of suits and dresses are long gone. I’m often told by them that they “get it” that their employees want fewer rules and regulations which have little to do with performance. But later, they will make inconsistent comments. Behind…

As an executive or manager, there are three things to think about when it comes to the concept of accountability in your business: Expecting different results from the same, repeated behavior You get the behavior you reward in your organization. If you want to change behavior, you must change the reward system you have in…

A young woman went to her mother and shared things were so hard for her. She wanted to give up. In the kitchen, her mother boiled 3 pots of water. In the first, she dropped carrots, in the second eggs, and the last ground coffee beans. She boiled them 20 minutes then placed them in…

When genders are working together it can sound like a personal relationship on occasion. Women asking the guys why they don’t participate in a discussion but then leave the meeting and have a bunch of ideas; or men asking the women why they take so long to make a point. The way our brains are…

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An alluring English accent. A booming baritone. Voice sets a mental image. How does your sound portray you? We increasingly use voice to convey our brand –  voicemail, radio blogs, phone conferences, webcasts… Most aren’t born with a radio voice, but a smile & smooth delivery is the difference between a listener receiving your full…

Does your profile photo make you want to know YOU? Whether on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or Match.com, it’s an instantaneous recognition or retraction tool! In regards to professional or personal branding, the most effective way to communicate to the world is with a current, in focus and preferably not shot in your bathroom mirror on…

Time management coaches advise using auto-replies stating you check your email 3x/day [not every 30 seconds] to gently train your recipient away from a ‘must hear back from you immediately’ mentality. Clients and colleagues beg you to remove it. How to please them all? When initiating a relationship share your ‘scope of work’ includes replying…

How to crosshatch increasing technology and the wavering practice of etiquette? Resist as you may, technology is increasing being used in our personal and business lives. Are the two incompatible? It’s not the gadget’s fault but more so the user behind it – increasingly indifferent, bored and attention-deficit inclined.  Take a deep breath, click the…