mPower: Measuring Accountability–and Creating ‘Presence’

NEW YORK–Presence, says executive speech coach and media trainer Ruth Sherman, is a hidden asset.

“Command of every platform is the greatest marketing and personal branding tool no one wants to use,” Sherman said here during the mPower luncheon here at the recent MBA National Secondary Market Conference & Expo. “It enables you to leap ahead, and leap over your more qualified and less qualified peers. Too often, presence is a tool not used.”

Sherman said when she last keynoted an mPower event in 2017, just 3 percent of women held top positions in U.S. companies. Two years later, that figure has grown–to just 4.8%. “It’s progress, but it’s not enough,” she said.

“We really need, as leaders, to measure and take accountability,” said MBA COO and mPower Founder Marcia Davies. “We are all working, I believe, to try and make it better and do something tangible to move the needle.”

Culturally, the divide remains. For example, Sherman noted men prove trust by asking each other for business; women fear they will erode trust by doing so. Men view friendships as deep wells of business opportunity; women view friendships as sacrosanct and avoid “poisoning” the wells.

“Men keep score; women hold grudges,” Sherman said. “Whether it’s a golf coach, a personal coach, they look for the best they can because it will make them better; women look for a sale.”

Sherman noted it’s not women’s fault. “It’s the way we are, the way we are programmed,” she said. “It’s also the reason we are only 4.8 percent of top leadership.”

Sherman called on women to use the power of networking–engaging in “asks.”

“Train yourself to regularly ask and offer,” Sherman said. “It’s not a currency; stop personalizing and start transactionalizing.”

Displaying confidence, Sherman noted, is all non-verbal. “If the way you look and sound contradicts what you say, then people will not believe you. You have to display confidence, even when you don’t feel it.” Additionally, she said, authenticity is widely overrated. “‘Be yourself’ is the worst possible advice someone can give,” she said.

“Find your story–and tell it,” Sherman added. “And make sure you tell people what you are doing and keep the right people informed.”