Building Gravitas - Building Heft

Gravitas, Strong Communication Skills, and Measured Demeanor Take us Far

Image by FlyD from Unsplash

There are three attributes decision-makers look for when interviewing C-Suite hires:
1) Gravitas;
2) being a strong Communicator; and
3) a combination of measured Appearance & Demeanor.

Of these three attributes, GRAVITAS is the sought-after must-have. Gravitas is rooted in our own assured trust in ourselves - the knowledge that we'll show up and follow-through again and again, come what may.

Gravitas is also about HEFT - knowing our subject matter cold.  It’s about being five and ten-layers-deep in our area of expertise, knowing our stuff and having it at our fingertips. Gravitas is also about signaling heft, signaling capability, competence, self-assurance, and trustworthiness. How so?

By high-level doing what we say we’ll do;

By being measured in conduct, speech and disposition:

By demonstrating humility and emotional wisdom; and

By listening more than we speak.

To have Gravitas is to have trust in your layers-deep command of your domain, and trust in your layers-deep mastery of Self. We can’t build or signal credibility however, unless we have first built credibility with ourselves. Credibility is the foundation of TRUST, and trust is the foundation for all thriving relationships, business endeavors, and societies. Credibility is essential for self-efficacy, career success, and healthy relationships, but before we can build credibility with others, we must first build credibility with ourselves.

Building assurance in ourselves begins by high-level doing what we SAY we’ll do, by being deliberate, considerate and MEASURED in our conduct, speech, and disposition, by attending to our responsibilities to ourselves and others regardless of mood, and by open-mindedly listening more than we speak. Those are four key areas where the work of building self-assurance and credibility and HEFT lie.

We can’t build or signal credibility unless we have credibility with ourselves first. What to do? Make THIS the year - YOUR year. Catalog what you know, what you’re good at and do well. Catalog the assets you bring and level-up in areas that require your care and attention. Build credibility, expectation, small disciplines and TRUST with yourself, and over time, Gravitas will follow. Good luck and happy building.