Authentic Gravitas: Who Stands Out and Why

Organizational and social psychologist Newton, CEO of the business training company CoachAdviser, offers tips on exuding an air of respectability and trustworthiness in this dry and jargon-clogged, if thorough, guide. She begins by stating that people in the workplace want to radiate gravitas—which she defines, quoting the Cambridge English Dictionary, as “seriousness and importance of manner, causing feelings of respect and trust in others”—not primarily for professional advancement but to feel valued, trusted, and respected, and for who they are, not just how they present themselves. So how, she asks, can professionals cultivate an intangible, unteachable quality? Newton identifies two fallacies commonly holding people back: the myth of the gravitas gift—that this quality is innate—and the myth of confidence—that confidence is the key to possessing gravitas. She argues that anyone can actively build the skills that allow them to present the best version of their “real self” in public, first by making the “three commitments”: to courage, connection, and curiosity. Making overly heavy use of buzzwords—e.g., IMPACT (insight, motivation, perception, advocate, content, technique)—throughout the text, Newton goes on to discuss verbal and nonverbal techniques, distinguishing between powerful and powerless language, inspiring oneself in order to inspire others, taking on one’s “gremlins” or anxieties, and adapting one’s self-presentation, without compromising integrity, to different situations. This well-meaning but repetitive guide is unlikely to make much of a splash. (Mar.)