What does gravitas mean to you?
The dictionary definition of the word is “dignity, seriousness, or solemnity of manner”. In the workplace, does it mean something different?
A lot of the women we work with worry about their gravitas, and many have been given feedback that it’s something they need to work on if they want to be successful at a senior level.
So, does this mean that the key to success is being dignified, serious and solemn at all times when at work? Or is there something more that people are looking for when they cite this as a quality that successful senior leaders need to have?
When we dig deeper into the feedback that women have received around gravitas, it seems to point more to the impact that we make and the credibility we have - both in a senior role in general, and as a subject matter expert in our chosen field. Not necessarily our seriousness, but certainly our ability to be taken seriously.
If you want to become more impactful and come across in the workplace as someone with gravitas, here are some of the things you can do.
Choose your language - use phrases and terminology that demonstrate you’re thinking strategically and considering the big picture, but avoid waffling or unnecessarily filling a silence.
Don’t be afraid to challenge - ask constructive, inquisitive questions that show you are keen to get a deeper understanding of business issues.
Seek feedback from your trusted circle - if you’ve received feedback from your boss or senior team around gravitas, sense check it with people you know and trust and find out what THEY think you could do to make more impact.
Be comfortable and set yourself up to feel confident - wear outfits that make you feel good, enter the room confidently and make sure you’re prepared for important meetings.
Broaden your horizons - if there are gaps in your senior level experience, see if you can fill these by volunteering or working on a new project that gives you exposure to new areas.
Above all, think of people you work with or have worked with in the past that you perceived to have gravitas. What did they do? How did they speak and act? Can you take elements of that and put your own stamp on them to build your own version of gravitas?
You may be thinking that makes it all sound very straightforward, when we all know that it’s not. The good news is, we’ve done more work on understanding what gives someone gravitas at work, and we’ve put it all into our free 16 page eBook, which you can download below.
It works through the five tips we’ve outlined above in a lot more detail and gives you tons of practical suggestions and exercises that will give you a sure fire way to build your gravitas at work.
Download the FREE guide HERE
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Written by Hannah Poulton
Co-founder of Nonpareil Network.
Hannah is a portfolio Marketing Director. She is also a Non Executive Director for the Welsh Cycling Union and a Lay Member for the British Chiropractic Council. She also volunteers as a Magistrate and is a Lay Member for NHS Blood and Transplant.
