11 May Authentic Executive Presence in Leadership

Posted at 14:26h in Leadership Development, Podcast by

Adam Dill, Chief Customer Officer At Wicked Foods

Adam Dill, Chief Customer Officer at Wicked Foods, discusses authentic executive presence in leadership. He explains how leaders can cultivate executive presence—a skill that’s both learned and practiced. Through self-awareness, feedback, and alignment with personal values, Adam illustrates how authentic executive presence can foster meaningful impact and build team trust.

What is Authentic Executive Presence in Leadership?

Adam describes executive presence as “how others experience you.” It’s about how you show up, communicate, and the impact you make. Key components include:

  • Clarity of Communication: Ensuring that your words build confidence and inspire others.
  • Emotional Intelligence: Recognizing how your expressions and body language affect others’ perception.
  • Intentional Participation: Engaging in conversations and decisions with presence and awareness, even in politically complex environments.

Adam emphasizes that authentic executive presence in leadership is a skill accessible to everyone—it simply takes intentionality and commitment.

Practical Tips for Developing Authentic Executive Presence

Adam’s own leadership journey shows that creating presence is about building awareness and practicing specific behaviors:

  • Embrace Feedback: Constructive feedback, such as watching video recordings of interactions, reveals potential gaps between how one intends to come across and how others actually perceive them.
  • Adjust Body Language: Simple actions like smiling and leaning in signal approachability and openness.
  • Show Engagement: Speak up during meetings, even if just to express thoughtfulness and to demonstrate active engagement.
  • Clarify Personal Traits: Being transparent about quirks, such as a serious thinking expression, minimizes misunderstandings and improves team dynamics.

The Power of Vulnerability and Authenticity

Adam advocates for a leadership style that includes vulnerability and empathy to strengthen connections within teams:

  • Self-Disclosure: Sharing struggles and personal stories humanizes leaders, making them more relatable and accessible.
  • Alignment with Core Values: Leaders should stay true to their priorities, balancing personal and professional life to avoid burnout and show consistency in values.
  • Modeling Work-Life Balance: Adam shares that prioritizing his family within work decisions has deepened his relationships and allowed him to model a balanced approach for his team.

Mentoring and Authentic Executive Presence

As a dedicated mentor, Adam has observed that helping mentees develop presence begins with aligning their actions to personal values:

  • Define Personal Goals: Encourage mentees to clarify their desired impact and legacy, allowing their executive presence to reflect their genuine self.
  • Support Authenticity: Mentorship should focus on aligning professional choices with personal identity to maintain an authentic executive presence.
  • Evaluate Workplace Fit: Adam advises young professionals to assess if their work environment aligns with their values to maintain an authentic leadership style.

The Shifting Perspective on Work-Life Balance

Adam sees the emerging generations focusing more intentionally on integrating work into their life goals, a shift he finds admirable:

  • Generational Change: Younger generations often prioritize life goals first, letting work adapt to those priorities.
  • Value-Based Life Choices: Adam believes that relationships, not just career achievements, should have central importance. The new generation’s approach, he notes, is an excellent model for integrating family values and career aspirations.

Key Practices for Success in Leadership

Adam highlights three habits that have contributed to his own success in leadership:

  • Continuously Learn: Stay engaged through podcasts, webinars, or books on leadership to keep ideas fresh.
  • Be Intentional with Others: Building connections can be as simple as greeting team members regularly, which fosters approachability and inclusivity.
  • Respect Everyone Equally: Treat all colleagues with respect, regardless of title, which fosters a culture of mutual appreciation and support.

Final Takeaway

Adam’s insights highlight that authentic executive presence in leadership is more than a set of skills; it’s a mindset that focuses on self-awareness, open communication, and genuine connections. Leaders who consistently show up in alignment with their core values not only build trust but also leave a lasting, positive impact on those they lead. His approach underscores that executive presence is not about projecting authority—it’s about fostering trust and engagement through genuine interactions. Adam Dill’s advice on cultivating executive presence is both practical and profound, showing how intentionality and self-awareness help leaders develop an authentic presence. Through feedback, empathy, and work-life alignment, leaders can create a grounded, impactful leadership style that resonates deeply with their teams. Authenticity, as Adam illustrates, is the cornerstone of a powerful executive presence.

About Adam Dill

Adam Dill is the Chief Customer Officer at Wicked Foods, bringing decades of expertise as a sales executive within the consumer-packaged goods industry. Before joining Wicked Foods in 2020, Adam spent 25 years at General Mills, where he held 20 different roles, ultimately serving as Vice President of Trade and Strategic Capabilities and becoming a corporate officer. His extensive experience includes a focus on building strategic capabilities and driving customer engagement.

Adam holds a B.S.B.A. degree in Marketing, Sales, and Sales Management from Bowling Green State University, an MBA from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, and a master’s in theological studies from Bethel Seminary.

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