How does she do it? She walks into the room, and all eyes and ears are on her. Waiting, listening, watching. She is the one everyone recognizes as the leader when a team is formed. She's the first one picked by clients or customers to speak with about their multi-million dollar account. They look to her for guidance and courage.

What does that woman have that you don't? What's her secret? Presence.

Executive Presence.

Gratitude is one of the most powerful emotions you can have. Every person in business is thankful for something or someone; investors, supporters, parents, spouses, customers, being in the right place at the right time, on-time delivery, increased on-line presence, high performing team. The list goes on. But how and how often do you show your gratitude? Say a simple thank you? Give an appreciative smile?

Men look at problems and see one thing. That one thing which needs correction, and they seek to fix it. Women look at the same problem and see multiple things that need fixing. Men use their left brain searching for the answer, while women use their right brain searching for several answers.

Men and women evaluate problems differently. What else is new?

There’s the desire to solve the problem, then there’s the desire to uncover every reason or hint at what wouldn’t solve the problem.

Do you ever wonder whose life you’re influencing? Look around you. Who do you see? What’s going on in your environment?

Where are you having impact? Do you have the upper hand - carefully measuring and selecting what goes on in your world?

The person who takes charge of his or her environment, diminishes the unexpected outside influence and embraces the effort, energy and time it takes to make it all happen – is a person you need to pay attention to.

It’s important to be aware of your comfort or discomfort with persuasion. Find out how fear plays a role in your influencing or persuasive behavior. Here’s a quick self-exam. Just as we do an external exam it is equally important to do an internal exam. Read these statements. Be as honest as you can (nobody will see your answers – only you!) Please answer Yes or No to the following: 1. I second guess myself more than 2 times every day. 2. When ordering a meal at a café I hesitate because of what others will say.