As healthcare compliance officers, we are tasked with ensuring that our organizations adhere to a complex web of laws and regulations tied to patient care and reimbursement. An often overlooked— but vital asset to the effectiveness of your compliance program—is the ability to demonstrate executive presence. In this article, we’ll take a look some of key characteristics that define this important skillset, and how executive presence can help you in navigating the politics of healthcare.
What is Executive Presence?
Executive presence is a combination of qualities, both tangible and intangible, that convey leadership, credibility, and confidence. It’s more than physically how present yourself in a corporate setting, it encompasses how you communicate with others and inspire them to act—compliantly, of course.
Individuals with a strong executive presence can be characterized by the following traits:
Effective Communication—They speak clearly, concisely, and with conviction, as well as actively engage in meaningful conversations.
Authentic—Their personality is genuine in nature, whether they are on stage or off-stage.
Emotionally Intelligent—They navigate complex interpersonal situations effectively because they can identify the emotions of others and know how to manage their own.
Confident—The believe in their abilities and commit to them.
Handle Stress Gracefully—They maintain their composure in high-pressure situations.
Decisive—They make timely decisions and take responsibility for them regardless of outcome.
Big Picture Thinker—They have the ability to see the end of a project before starting on it by considering various options and potential outcomes.
For a compliance officer, these traits can make a significant difference in how you resolve an issue and build credibility as a trusted business partner to those in operations.
Executive Presence Tips
If you seek to achieve the above-noted traits, here are five tips to help you improve your ability to demonstrate executive presence as you interact with others in the organization.
Mentally prep for your discussions ahead of time. (Think about what information you need to convey to your audience, anticipate questions you may get asked, and what actions you need them to take.)
Develop and refine your critical thinking skills. (For tips on critical thinking, click here.)
Build confidence by identifying weaknesses and practicing the skills needed to overcome them.
Focus on maintain a calming presence as you address and resolve a compliance issue. (For strategies on maintaining a calming presence, click here.)
Improve your emotional intelligence by developing tools for emotional self-awareness, self-care, and empathy.
Executive Presence and The Politics of Healthcare
Executive presence is a critical asset to help you in navigating the politics of healthcare. For example, when you are able to confidently communicate with others and maintain a calming presence while resolving an issue, you will position yourself as a credible resource. Over time, this helps you build trust and develop stronger relationships with those in operations.
Executive presence also helps you positively influence the behavior of others in the organization. When you critically think through a compliance matter by challenging your assumptions, considering various outcomes, and factoring in the feedback of others, you are better equipped to find solutions that work. Finally, executive presence aids your ability to resolve conflict by taking into account the point-of-view—and emotions—of other interested parties.
When factored together, this skillset improves how you interact with others in the organization and your ability to obtain buy-in to the compliance program.
Pulling it All Together
Executive presence skills are a must for any compliance officer. They help you communicate more effectively and project confidence as you resolve an issue. They also improve your chances of building credibility as a trusted business partner to those in operations. In the context of navigating the politics of healthcare, executive presence helps you to build stronger relationships with others in the organization, as well as positively influence behavior, and resolve conflict. In order to be effective, executive presence should be authentic to you. These traits aren’t about being someone you're not—rather becoming the best version of yourself.
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