Inculcating Executive Presence among Young MBA Students: A Review of Emerging Leadership Competencies

Abstract

Abstract

DOI: https://doi.org/10.82471/4ayxt-wde05

Nowadays, having executive presence has become a key leadership skill that allows one to establish credibility, communicate effectively, and influence outcomes. As a result of the rapid changes in the contemporary business environment, graduates with Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree are supposed to possess not only technical and managerial skills but also certain leadership qualities and interpersonal skills that will help one to display the above-mentioned leadership characteristics of executive presence. The following article aims at examining the current scientific literature on executive presence and determining the essential competencies that can help one to acquire this leadership characteristic as an MBA student. For this reason, various scientific works, books, and publications from different industries were analyzed in order to find the link between communication skills, emotional intelligence, confidence, professionalism, ethical behavior, flexibility, and effective decision making and executive presence. One of the findings that became clear from the analysis of literature on the subject is the fact that the ability to demonstrate the leadership qualities associated with executive presence is not an inborn skill. Rather, it is the skill that can be acquired during the management education process and by means of practical learning, mentorship, and leadership development programs. It is also necessary to mention that the article under discussion implies that executive presence should be taught in the context of MBA education

References

1. Bates, & Weighart. (2015). Executive presence: A practical guide to leadership influence. McGraw-Hill Education.


2. Chukwuma, I. O., & Okonkwo, U. O. (2023). Executive presence and employee engagement: An empirical analogy. Journal of Management Information and Decision Sciences, 26(3), 1–10.


3. Crittenden, V. L. (2013). Executive presence: The art of commanding respect like a CEO. Leader to Leader, 2013(68), 10–15.


4. Dalavai, E. V. (2019). Executive presence: Myth, meaningful or mastery? University of Dallas.


5. Hewlett, S. A., Leader-Chivée, L., Sherbin, L., Gordon, J., & Dieudonné, K. (2012). Executive presence. Center for Talent Innovation.


6. Hewlett, S. A. (2024). The new rules of executive presence. Harvard Business Review, 102(1), 76–85.


7. Limardi, M., Morrison, J., & Morrison, M. (2014). Executive presence: A leadership perspective. Leadership Excellence Essentials, 31(6), 15–17.


8. Long, J. (2011). Executive presence: Why it matters and how to develop it. Training Journal, 14–17.


9. Sherman, R. O. (2015). The importance of executive presence. Nursing Management, 46(6), 54–56.


10. Shirey, M. R. (2013). Executive presence: A guide to developing an executive image. Journal of Nursing Administration, 43(12), 638–640.


11. Williamson, S. (2011). The hidden factor: Executive presence. Greenleaf Book Group Press.