The Language of LeadershipJo Miller, CEOWomen’s Leadership Coaching, Inc.

Jo Miller

• CEO of Women’s Leadership Coaching, Inc. and Founding Editor of BeLeaderly.com

• Helps emerging women leaders create a roadmap for their career advancement.

• Has traveled widely in Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East to deliver keynotes and teach workshops for women’s conferences, professional associations, and corporate women’s initiatives. 

• A leading authority on women’s leadership, Jo delivers more than 60 speaking presentations annually to audiences of up to 1,200 women.

I HAVE UNIQUE

•

KOALAFICATIONS

Don’t wait for permission or an invitation to lead.

Don’t wait for someone to promote you.

Take charge of your own career trajectory!

You can’t afford to wait…

In this session

• Leadership presence• Meetings and presentations• What to say when…

Executive Director, UBS

“Leadership presence is a quality that is almost

impossible to define, yet we all know it when we

see it.”

Leadership Presence by Kathy Lubar and Belle Linda Halpern

“Why is it that when some leaders enter a room they

automatically command the attention of those present?

What is it they have? They have presence.”

Kelly EasterlingAudit Principal, Rothstein Kass

“When they leave the room, you remember them more than you remember anyone

else.”

Leadership presence comes in many forms

• The charismatic leader • The supportive leader• The truth-speaker• The thought leader • The authoritarian• The quiet leader

Nina SimoskoHead of Strategy, Planning & Operations, Nike Technology

•  “It’s almost as if they

have ‘leadership pheromones’. They

elicit a natural response to follow them.”

What is leadership presence?• Think of someone you know

who has it!

• List three qualities or characteristics that are the source of their leadership presence.

Exercise

• Reflect on your own leadership style and strengths.

• What signature style of leadership presence do you want to become known for?

• Select 3 words to describe it.

Is it more important to be liked or respected?

The Charisma Myth, by Olivia Fox Cabane.

“The equation that produces charisma is fairly simple. All you have to do is give the impression

that you possess both high power and high warmth, since charismatic behaviors project a

combination of these two qualities.”

Amy J.C. CuddyAssociate Professor of Business

Administration, Harvard Business School

“We ask: do I like this person

(warmth/trustworthiness)

And do I respect this person

(power/competence)?”

Warmth AuthorityLeadershi

p Presence

“Warmthority”

Is it more important to be liked or respected?

“Connect, Then Lead,” Amy J.C. Cuddy, Matthew Kohut, and John

Neffinger, Harvard Business Review.

A growing body of research suggests that the way to influence

—and to lead—is to begin with

warmth.

Three components of leadership presence

LEADERSHIP

PRESENCE

Words

Vocal tone

Body languag

e

7%

38%

55%

Luann PendyVice President of Global Quality,

Medtronic

“Meetings are your greatest opportunity to

be visible and show your organization what you bring to the table.”

ENGAGEyour

audience

PERSUADE

your audience

This presentation is availablewww.BeLeaderly.com/new

What to say when…

1. When you don’t have the answer

“In Business, There’s No Such Answer as “I Don’t Know,” by Dr. Patricia Fletcher,

BeLeaderly.com

“Whether you are pitching to an investor or a client, holding a

key meeting with your employees, or working through any decision-process, answering with “I don’t know” is not an

answer. Ever. 

It is an indicator that you need more information before making

a decision or proceeding.

When you don’t have the answer

• “I don’t have enough information to answer your question.”1

• “That's what we're trying to figure out. Help me to understand…”

• “Good question. I’ll find out.”• “Based on what we currently know, I

can confidently say…” 2

— 1. Jeanne Sullivan, 2. Selena Rezvani, in “What Leaders Say When They Don’t Know the Answer” at

BeLeaderly.com

• It's OK to answer a question with a question…

Once! (Maybe twice.)

When you don’t have the answer

2. To encourage accountability and commitment

• Ask questions:

–“What are our measures of success?” –“How will we know it's complete?”–“How would you like to be

accountable?”–“How shall we check in?”–“What shall we do if things go off

track?”

3. When managing others

• “I've got your back.”• “I know you'll get it done.”• “My job is to help you be successful.”

— “Management Lessons from Under the Bus”, by Liz Brenner at BeLeaderly.com

4. When someone hijacks

your meeting

When someone hijacks your meeting

Give them a choice:• "It looks like this has sparked an

important conversation. Would you like to take a few minutes right now to discuss this or do you want to me to go ahead and finish sharing the information I have for you?”

When the conversation is done, stand up:• Reference the value of the conversation

that your presentation has sparked.

— Anita Stadler in “Meeting, interrupted: Three keys to regaining control after someone hijacks

your meeting.”

4. When someone’s not performing

• “How do you think it’s going?”• “What’s not going well?”• “What would you do differently if you

had to do it over?”• “How can I help you going forward?”

— Micky Nye, in the NEW Leadership Academy webinar, “Giving and Receiving Feedback,” at

Newonline.org/studyhall

In this session

• Leadership presence• Meetings and presentations• What to say when…

Recommended“Connect, Then Lead,” by Amy J.C. Cuddy, Matthew Kohut, and John Neffinger, at HBR.org

“In Business, There’s No Such Answer as “I Don’t Know,” by Dr. Patricia Fletcher at BeLeaderly.com

“What Leaders Say When They Don’t Know the Answer,” by Jo Miller at BeLeaderly.com

“Management Lessons from Under the Bus”, by Liz Brenner at BeLeaderly.com

NEW Leadership Academy webinar, “Giving and Receiving Feedback,” at Newonline.org/studyhall

This presentation is availablewww.BeLeaderly.com/newsummit

“If you don’t have a seat at the table,

bring your own chair.”

Midy Aponte