The grey heron at St. James’s Park in London
Last week while walking around St. James’s Park in London I saw this statuesque grey heron standing tall and looking directly at me. No eye dart, no fidgeting, no swaying. I told my sister Nina, “Now THAT is executive presence!”
It reminded me of what a senior VP client once told me, “In that meeting, I didn’t even have to speak much—everyone just looked to me for direction.”
From the grey heron to the SVP
It’s not about talking more. It’s about how you show up—especially before you say a word.
Here are the Top 4 Nonverbal Cues that define credible, composed leadership:
- Steady Eye Contact – Confidence starts with your gaze. Hold it naturally (3–5 seconds) to connect, not dominate.
- Commanding Posture – Stand or sit tall, shoulders open. Your stance silently says, “I’ve got this.” Note: Good posture used to be commonplace. Not anymore. We are so screwed! We are all now scrunching over tiny to large screens, walking and sitting hunched over. Beware.
- Purposeful Gestures – Use your hands to emphasize meaning, not manage nerves. Keep your gestures intentional—that’s where presence lives.
- Composed Facial Expression – A calm, focused face shows emotional steadiness—one of the rarest executive traits.
In moments of uncertainty, people don’t just listen to what you say—they watch how you lead. 
Your nonverbal cues are your leadership signature.
Emulate that grey heron!
photos taken by Karen Cortell Reisman while walking around St. James’s Park near Buckingham Palace
Karen,
Well stated … love the mention of the stately, impressive grey heron.
“Looking the part of a leader is a more commanding presence than dominating the conversation by interrupting the flow of the meeting’s agenda. Being viewed as engaged by colleagues beats pointy gestures and interruptions of presentations and discussions that naturally develop during the flow of a business meeting.
Cheers,
Gene
Gene – you are so right! A good communicator needs to be engaged as well as engaging, and we sometimes forget the “engaged” part of that equation.
Being engaged is part of the silent language of Executive Presence. As you say, it’s not pointy gestures and interruptions!
Thank you for your comment. Cheers back to you.
In our back yard we have gray,white,and blue herons. Those docile lovely birds also have a fish in their mouth a fraction of a second later. Literally food for thought!
Ha! One more reason to give this bird Executive Presence Status. They make quick decisions. (But let’s hope they don’t eat aggravating colleagues🙄.)
Thanks for your comment!