Gravitas at work means that one is taken seriously, their contributions are considered important and they are respected. This increases the ability to persuade and influence the team and facilitate the rise in the organization.
Some outside manifestations may be considered as displaying gravitas. This could be posturing, dominance, or exhibiting self-confidence to charm. In the long term, it may erode relationships and may lead to fear-based cultures. Building gravitas by external appearance can be harmful. Authenticity is one of the strongest predictors of well-being. Here it means understanding one's real self, motions, beliefs, and acting in a way that reflects the inner values.
Everyone can develop gravitas while being true to oneself. Understand that everyone's self will change as they develop a deep sense of trusted connections with people. Through coaching, one can find ways to develop an understanding suitable for their profile. Understand the role and ask for specific feedback from clients - eternal and internal - about the aspects of their work that one is not familiar with. It is difficult to start this exercise but once one makes the effort it would pay off as most people would like to be asked and are more than willing to help and become more open.
Some methods that can be considered to increase gravitas.
Be clear about what you want
Be explicit about one's goals and values. Clarity will help in acting in ways to support them. Find ways to achieve goals in a way that is in alignment with one's values.
Be open to feedback
One may not succeed every time. But when those actions do not match the stated values and commitments differ from what others experience it can weaken our ability to build trust and connections. Proactively seek feedback, take ownership, and learn and on them.
Create time for more conversations.
Everyone is so busy rushing from one meeting to another or meeting targets, they may miss out on what is going on with colleagues. What are their priorities, What interests them the most now, what are the opportunities they are pursuing, or what is their main worry? Take time to discuss and share which will help in building stronger connections.
Find time between agendas to discuss non-official matters and spend time to motivate people you work with. Have meaningful discussions without being too inquisitive, ask with genuine interest.
Over time, this approach would help one become more influential and better at collaboration. One would be trusted more and benefit the team, peers, and clients.
"Need more confidence" is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Telling oneself that one doesn't have enough confidence can be demotivating and decrease confidence further. Many people assume self-confidence is a critical aspect of gravitas but this is not necessarily so. Many people who are considered to have gravitas do not necessarily feel self-confident, but they are brave enough to pursue their goals. Be clear about this and need for courage. Self-confidence will grow from these acts of courage.
Commit to integrity
Integrity is one of the strongest predictors of effectiveness, besides courage. Integrity facilitates courage. Integrity kindles out the ability to speak up and share our views that might be different and maybe risky. This reinforces authenticity and supports in developing gravitas.
The best gravitas comes from authenticity, from the deep trust that one builds by being clear about the impact one makes on others, empathizing with the people one works with, and working with integrity.
Gravitas Is a Quality You Can Develop
by Rebecca Newton HBR 2020/09
September 24, 2020
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