Practical tips for gravitas/leadership

[SpicePearl]

I recently changed jobs and have moved into more of a senior position. It’s not quite in the leadership team but I am finding I am much more often in the situation of being the most senior person in a meeting and am more often the senior go-to for a client.

I am good at my job but still learning this new aspect of my role and looking for practical tips to override my default introvert/submissive/people pleasing and come across more confident to gain trust and ensure clients and my team have confidence in me. Any advice or any useful resources that might be worth reading?

Lower your voice if you can

What's your posture like ?

@midgetastic probably terrible… I’m also fat which I know doesn’t help a certain type of person take me seriously. So most of the time I’m just trying to take up as little space as possible 🙁

Take up BIG space
After all you got the job

Practise Paddington stares

I think you have to get over the fatness thing to help your confidence. Think something like:
"Yea I'm fat but that doesn't affect how I do my job so it doesn't matter."
Practice standing straight in front of a mirror and doing work talk/giving a speech. You'll see how you look in different postures. Make eye contact with yourself.
People will notice if you make a change like that so don't be surprised if they comment, take it as a compliment.
Good luck!

I know I'm morally in the wrong and we shouldn't judge anyone on appearance but I think I would be more likely to unconsciously see a larger person as someone more senior so please please don't worry about your body shape.

I have slowed down my talking, cut my hair and made sure I'm clearer about expectations.

I really struggle with balancing gravitas and not pissing people (men with big egos) off when they think I'm some tiny just out of uni pushover.

I do make sure I dress smartly/at the smarter end of out dress code in "classics"; navy straight leg trousers, nice top/shirt, simple jewelry, light make up. No idea if it helps or not but its very much my 'style now.

Congratulations on the new job!
There’s a great book called Gravitas which I found really useful. I also listened to a lot of How to Own the Room podcasts (as well as the book). It’s still early days for you though so I’m sure you’ll hit your stride soon. You just need a bit more self belief 😁

@ForestDad to be honest I do think that, it’s just I’m conscious of biases other people likely hold! Thank you for the tips, eye contact I know I tend to avoid a bit so it’s a good idea to practise!

@spuddy56 thank you, it’s quite a trendy agency environment so formal is hard to pull off without looking really out of place but I think I could definitely appear more groomed in general, that I’m going to think about the best ways to do that. This conversation has made me realise that I actually am not too bothered about junior perceptions of me within my own team as I feel confident they are already seeing I can do the job regardless and I sort of have the time to win them over, but I really need clients who I might not interact with too much to buy into me as a competent expert/consultant and first impressions (outfit etc) are going to have a lot to do with that.

Thanks @cakelover75! Yes it was a big change moving companies and roles at the same time so you are probably right I need a little more time. The book/podcast recommendations are very good, I’ll take a look thank you.