Welcome back to the Look and Sound of Leadership, an ongoing series of executive

coaching tips designed to help you be perceived in the workplace the way you want

to be perceived. I'm Tom Henschel, your executive coach, and today we're talking

about leadership behaviors in meetings. Terry's feedback from her peers and superiors was consistent. People wanted a stronger

presence from her. They all knew how smart she was, and they knew she was ethical

and hard-working. but the feedback's message was clear.

To be seen as a leader, she was going to have to develop a bigger

presence.

Although not yet 40,

Terry had an old school belief. If I keep my head down and my nose to the

grindstone, people will notice and reward my efforts.

She wasn't happy with me when I told her that that belief system got debunked back when my dad was

still driving ramblers.

Perry attended lots and lots of meetings.

It was her biggest opportunity to create a new impression.

When I asked about her behavior in meetings,

she rather defensively asserted that when she had something to say she said it,

but that she wasn't a grandstanding blowhard like

some people she knew.

And when you speak up, I asked, are your ideas given weight in consideration? Do you feel you get heard?

That fired her up. Not always. A lot of times I'll suggest something and

ten minutes later someone else will say the exact same thing and everyone

...