Executive Charisma: Six Steps to Mastering the Art of Leadership

D. A. Benton

Retail Price: $16.95 LS Price: $11.53 You Save: $5.42 (32%) Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours. Format: Paperback, 224pp. ISBN: 9780071462136 Publisher: McGraw-Hill Trade Pub. Date: October 17, 2005 Average Customer Review:

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A proven six-step process for acquiring the style, flair, and credibility needed to make it to the top

According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, managers who do not exude an allencompassing self-confidence, style, poise, and energy, in short, "executive presence," are highly unlikely to make it to the corner office. Unfortunately, the vast majority of managers, even the most talented and ambitious ones, are not born with these personal qualities. In this breakthrough book, bestselling author and world-renowned executive development coach D. A. Benton helps readers acquire executive charisma.

In Executive Charisma, Benton outlines a proven six-step approach for learning how to think, act, and relate to others like an executive.

She provides powerful tools for fine-tuning the complete executive charisma skill set, including:

• Interpersonal communications
• Managing upwards
• Confidence building
• Business humor
• Executive bearing, and more

Drawing upon her experience coaching clients at American Express, Century 21, Merrill Lynch, Nabisco, Viacom, Pepsi, and other top companies worldwide, Benton clearly defines executive charisma and explains why projecting a commanding professional demeanor is so fundamental to corporate success.

You know charisma when you see it in executives who exude self-confidence, style, composure, authority, and a boundless energy that propels them straight into the corner office. You work just as hard, contribute just as much; you're talented and ambitious, but what can you do? You're either born with charisma, or you're not, right? Wrong!

In Executive Charisma, bestselling author and world-renowned executive development coach D.A. Benton demonstrates that charismatic executives are not just born, they are made--and she introduces a proven six-step program for transforming yourself from a competent manager into a true leader. You'll learn how to think, act, and communicate like a C-level executive (CEO, CFO, CIO, etc.), and you'll discover powerful tools for developing and fine-tuning the complete executive charisma skill set.

Drawing on interviews with more than 500 of the world's leading executives and studies conducted by dozens of leading universities and research centers, Benton reveals that people skills account for 85 percent of why we get, keep, and move ahead in our jobs. The leaders who make it to the very top are those who work as hard at mastering the human side of management as the technical side. Executive Charisma shows you how to do the same.

With the help of this no-nonsense guide, you'll improve your interpersonal communication skills, learn how to manage upward, and find ways to project confidence even when you're feeling insecure. You'll discover how to use humor to put others at ease, develop an impressive executive bearing, and master the "Sacred Six Steps" to becoming an outstanding leader:

• Be the first to initiate
• Expect and give acceptance to maintain esteem
• Ask questions, and ask favors
• Stand tall, straight, and smile
• Be human, humorous, and hands-on
• Slow down, shut up, and listen

If you yearn to go beyond survival and just getting by, to take charge of your life, your career, and your destiny, stop dreaming and get to work. Read Executive Charisma, master the Sacred Six Steps, successful trait by successful trait; and infuse your climb up the corporate ladder with momentum and direction. You'll be amazed how much fun real success can be.


Reviews

"A wonderfully personal, step-by-step guide to being a truly caring leader with integrity, confidence, and drive."

—Reuben Mark, Chairman and CEO, Colgate-Palmolive Company

"Getting to better answers, better strategies, better positions inevitably means having an accurate and complete roadmap. For those seeking to improve--this is the roadmap."

—Kerry Hicks, President and CEO, HealthGrades, Inc.

"Leaders need to know both what to do and how to do it effectively. This is the 'how-to' part! Debra Benton helped me, now she can help you."

—Bill Coleman, founder and former Chairman and CEO, BEA Systems

"Amazing. Debra Benton has done it again. She has uncovered fresh insights and nuances which separate the charismatic leader from the rest of the pack."

—Doug Conant, president and CEO, Campbell Soup Company

D. A. Benton heads Benton Management Resources, an executive development and career-counseling firm in Fort Collins, Colorado, with clients in 18 countries. She is the author of numerous books, including the bestsellers Lions Don't Need to Roar and How to Think Like a CEO, as well as Secrets of a CEO Coach, and How to Act Like a CEO.

Write your own online review.

Mandatory reading for my team July 12, 2003
Reviewer: from Colorado United States

Benton has written best-selling books in the past but this is her finest. In a few hours of reading you'll learn for yourself the final piece of the puzzle to career success. It's not always comfortable to be reminded what you do wrong but fortunately she provides several alternatives to do "it right". I wish I had known this information 15 years ago I would have gone further, faster in my career advancement.

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