What is executive presence and how do you get it?

I’m putting together materials for clients on executive presence and making good impressions. Would this opener set the right tone?

Executive presence is the ability to inspire confidence, so your team wants to follow you and leadership wants to promote you.

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I need more proof before I can accept my autism

Hi Penelope, I’m constantly thinking about dying. Your latest posts make me wonder if I have autism too. My last real boyfriend was 7 years ago and never again, could that be autism?

I’ve been doing psychoanalysis with a therapist for over a year and he’s never mentioned such a thing. He can listen to my over-explosive emotions in a detached way. Maybe he’s autistic too. Should I ask him?

Part of me wants to believe you and yet I feel I need more proof. Can I use psychoanalysis as another way to understand what’s going on and decide what to do?

What’s the best support that an autistic can have if their family denies it?

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Why are you telling me I have autism?

I just read an article of yours about divorce — it was spot on.

I don’t think my wife, who for “no good reason” is pushing for a divorce, would agree.

We have two young kids, and she doesn’t seem to think it will negatively affect them?!

So why are you telling me I’m the one with autism?

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Which career path should I pick with my good grades: MBA, doctor or engineer?

My grades are good enough to get into an Ivy league business school. I want to become an innovation consultant and write Harvard Business Review pieces and books on the direction of business as it relates to innovation, politics, society, and civic issues.

However, I know those jobs require very good social skills, and a few years ago you told me on the phone that I have autism. Since we have spoken, I’ve found that much of my daily experience matches up with other autistic women. I’m bad at keeping meetings on track. I don’t cope well with direct challenges to my authority. I do an exemplary job in independent contributor roles, but I always have communication/personality clashes with managers and co-workers.

A friend of mine who was previously socially unskilled told me getting an MBA really helped him develop leadership and soft skills. I’m hoping to get the same results so I don’t have to use one of my backup plans: doctor or engineer.

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