Earlier in the CCO, you studied executive presence and learned there are four pillars you can work with to demonstrate and practice it: integrity, conviction of belief, clarity of thought, and composure under pressure. This week, we return to the fourth pillar, composure under pressure, to complete your understanding.
What does composure mean to you? One way to get a sense of the meaning of composure is by considering what it feels like to be around someone who is composed and what it feels like to be around someone who is not.
Composed people tend to leave us feeling like they’ve got things under control. Consider the flipside. Have you ever worked with someone who was always in a crisis? How did that leave you feeling? High anxiety, right? When we suffer from a lack of composure, we cause panic and stress for the people around us. Even top-notch performance won’t make up for leaving people feeling like the sky is falling.
The concept of composure includes the notion of steadiness of mind under stress. This steadiness of mind is demonstrated through one’s overall presence. In this Lesson, we explore one powerful pathway to finding and sustaining a composed presence: the vision you hold for yourself.
Week 8 Learning Objectives
- How can I maintain my composure under pressure?
- If vision isn’t the same thing as role or job title, what is it and how can I discover what mine is?
- How will I know if the way I’m expressing my vision is effective?