Thoughts about Conveying Gravitas

Posted on April 5, 2011

What is “Gravitas” and how is it conveyed by CEOs in a business situations?

Gravitas Defined as: high seriousness (as in a person’s bearing or in the treatment of a subject)

This is some of my thinking about how CEOs and executives can convey more gravitas—more of a sense of command and seriousness when they meet with others.  Some of these thoughts came to me as I am reading, “Emotions Revealed; Recognizing Faces and Feelings to Improve Communication and Emotional Life” by Paul Eckman, ISBN 0-8050-8339-1.  The book is focused on interpreting slight facial cues of others, and on managing one’s own facial signals, particularly for strong and detrimental emotions (like anger).  Not explicitly focused on expressing gravitas.  While one might learn to better control one’s facial muscles and voice, another approach is to try and put oneself in an appropriate emotional state, so that the appearance of the speaker automatically conveys the speaker’s emotional state.

My thoughts: Some are more relevant to a speech, while others will still be useful when in a more impromptu setting such as on a panel, or in a round table discussion.

1. The executive should choose the results desired from the meeting before the meeting ever starts.  Not only the specific results, but the emotional state of those present at the meeting should walk away with. This may require planning the emotional state of the audience as the meeting is taking place.
2. The executive should decide on his/her own optimal emotional state in advance, and try to be in that state at the start of the meeting/presentation.  This may mean sequestering oneself for 30 minutes prior to speaking, or avoiding things that “put him/her in the wrong mood”.
3. Try setting your face in advance.  That might mean putting a smile on just before you walk into the room.  Imagine being an actor, about to walk on stage—what must they do to their face (and posture and emotional state) in the seconds before the audience sees them.
4. For anything important, imagine yourself giving the speech/holding the meeting beforehand, including the audience’s reaction.  This visualization can really help, and can also act to teach the speaker what will happen.  I often do this in the car, taking a shower, etc.
5. Think, in advance and during the event what volume you are using when you speak, what pace you will speak at, what areas need pauses or extra emphasis, and what tonality is ideal.
6. Use words sparingly, and try and choose them carefully.  If possible, prepare an outline of key points, in a logical order.  Think before you speak, and don’t allow stream of consciousness to form your words.  Clarity of speaking conveys clarity of thought.
7. If participating in someone else’s meeting, be sure to speak regularly.  Being a passive listener nearly all of the time conveys lack of confidence, lack of understanding, or lack of conviction, or all three, none of which conveys gravitas.

I think gravitas stems from confidence, certainty of one’s own opinions, and feelings of self-importance.

Also critical is emotional alignment with the words and message.  It is very hard to “fake it”.

I also got to thinking about the difference between temperament, moods, and emotions.  All three must be contended within ourselves, and within those we work with.