Become the Real Deal: The Proven Path to Influence and Executive Presence

10

Centered Outer Presence

Transforming how others respond

“Why do you need me?” I asked Roger. Sitting in his gleaming corner office, I really wasn't sure why he had asked me to come in. Roger seemed like a calm and centered guy. He had just finished telling me that he thought he was pretty good at delivering speeches and dealing with the media, and based on his steady, empathetic demeanor, I believed him.

“There's no endpoint when it comes to personal development,” Roger said, leaning forward across his mahogany desk. “I need to keep learning every day. That's why I called you.”

Roger was the new president of a Fortune 500 company. His predecessor had “retired” after a disastrous year in which the company missed its numbers—by double-digit millions. Customers were also frustrated with his predecessor because the organization missed delivery dates and had quality issues. Roger wanted customers to have a better experience and recommit to his company. Just as important, he wanted to create a new corporate culture of accountability, engagement, and candor for his tens of thousands of employees. If that wasn't enough, he also wanted to communicate clearly to his board of directors so they would understand how hard his team was working to turn the company around.

“We've got a lot of work to do,” Roger said. “I want to make sure I set the right tone from the start.”

Roger was a savvy ...