It’s been wonderful to see so many “Starting a new role!” posts on LinkedIn over the past few weeks.
If you’re one of them, congratulations for getting through the recruitment process and securing what I’m hoping is the appointment of your dreams.
Once you’ve agreed the start date, the next step is to plan how you want to come across in your shiny new role. Not only do you want to prove to the decision makers that they made the right choice, you also want to make the right impression with your team, peers and stakeholders.
If this all sounds familiar, this post is for you…
Starting a new leadership position is both exciting and daunting. The spotlight is on you, your team is watching, stakeholders are evaluating and expectations are high. In these crucial first 90 days, how you show up and lead sets the tone.
What will enable you to stand out from the crowd and command genuine respect from the get-go isn’t a formulaic elevator speech or a marathon of back-to-back one-to-ones, it’s gravitas. But not the old-skool version that’s rooted in formality or status.
Having worked with leaders on their impact and influence for decades, what I know is that today’s most impactful leaders come across with their own version of authentic gravitas.
In my book, Leading with Gravitas, I define gravitas as “a blend of confidence, clarity, and impact that is grounded in self-awareness and expressed with authenticity.” When you lead with authentic gravitas, you not only project strength, you build lasting influence.
So how do you develop and demonstrate this leadership quality, particularly in the vulnerable early days of a new role? Here’s a six-point strategy to help you make a lasting impression, based on the proprietary Gravitas® framework I share in my masterclasses and executive coaching programmes.
1. Build Self-Awareness: identify the impact you want to make in advance
“Gravitas starts from the inside out. Until you know who you are and how you come across, it’s impossible to lead others with conviction.” — Leading with Gravitas
Start by taking an honest inventory of your strengths, blind spots, and emotional triggers. Complete my Gravitas Assessment to profile your unique gravitas and access personalised guidance on how to improve. Seek 360-degree feedback from current and past colleagues and reflect on the wins that got you to where you are today. Consider how you react under pressure and what assumptions you bring into this role which may hold you back.
In your first 90 days (and beyond), block out time in your calendar for reflection. Journal your reactions to situations, note what energizes or drains you, and stay alert to patterns of behaviour that build your leadership brand, as well as those that might compromise it.
Quick tip: Buddy up with a trusted colleague or mentor for a weekly check-in: “How did I come across this week?” Their input can offer golden insights you can’t see on your own.
2. Lead with Expertise (not just experience): deliver value early
“Gravitas is not about knowing everything. It’s about knowing enough, asking intelligent questions, and demonstrating the wisdom to seek insight when it’s needed.” — Leading with Gravitas
You were hired for a reason, and the first 90 days are the most appropriate time to demonstrate your value. This doesn’t have to be uncomfortable or awkward. Use my Rocket Pitch© model to showcase your expertise without sounding like you’re showing off.
As you look to the future, immerse yourself in the business, understand the landscape, and be curious. At the start of a new role, you have a free pass to ask the kind of big, wide open questions that others might avoid or that later down the line you’ll be expected to know.
In your first month, identify two to three key problems or opportunities where your skills can immediately contribute. Delivering small wins builds trust, and credibility.
Quick tip: Schedule a “Listening Tour” with your team and stakeholders. Use this time to learn, not impress. Insights gained here will serve you for months to come and build go a long way to building rapport and engagement.
3. Be Authentically You: don’t perform, connect
“Gravitas isn’t a role you play, it’s who you are when you bring your full, authentic self to the table.” — Leading with Gravitas
In a new position, it’s easy to slip into performance mode, trying too hard to sound intelligent or acting like someone you’re not. Fake confidence is fragile and often transparent, which will put people off you and compromise your gravitas.
Instead, choose to bring your own ‘human-ness’ to the role. Talk about your own values and how you relate to your organisation’s, acknowledge what you’re still learning, share details about your life outside of work and be honest in your communication. This isn’t about spilling the beans on all your quirks, failings and foibles! Be careful not to over-share, which some people find awkward and can damage your credibility.
Quick tip: In your first team meeting, share a brief story that shaped you, and invite others to do the same. This sets the tone for honest connection.
4. Cultivate Presence: be present, and visible
“Presence is not about dominating the room. It’s about being fully in the moment, with yourself, with others, and with the situation at hand.” — Leading with Gravitas
Leadership presence isn’t always about being the loudest. It’s about being present, and intentional. It’s conveyed in how you listen, pause, make eye contact, and hold the space rather than rush to fill it. It’s also about your visibility, and the subtle adjustments you make to your body language, tone of voice and personal style to conform or stand out.
In early interactions, be mindful of your pace and energy. Your warmth, calmness and centred presence will reassure others that you’re there to work with them and you have their best interests at heart.
Quick tip: Before key conversations or meetings, take 60 seconds to breathe, ground yourself, and set a clear intention: What energy do I want to bring into the room?
5. Prioritize Connection: influence begins with empathy
“True gravitas is relational. It’s not just about how you speak, it’s about how you make others feel heard, seen, and understood.” — Leading with Gravitas
Your early impact as a leader depends more on relationships than strategies. In your first 90 days, get to know your colleagues as individuals. What are their perspectives, concerns, and motivations. What do they care about? What do they need from you to thrive?
Rather than scheduling coffee and connects with everyone, be strategic with your time, building mutually beneficial relationships with colleagues and stakeholders who will inspire and support you.
Quick tip: Use my OPRAHS© model to plan your meetings. Think about your Objective, the People you’re talking to, the Role you’re playing in that meeting, which Attitude will best serve you, make sure you tune in and Hear what they’ve got to say, before finally thinking about what you’ll Say.
6. Project Intentional Impact: own the room without overshadowing
“To project gravitas is to communicate with purpose. Every word, gesture, and silence sends a message. Make sure yours is deliberate.” — Leading with Gravitas
As well as using your first ninety days to observe, it’s also important to identify opportunity to amplify your message to a wider audience. Although it’s tempting to focus on your immediate team, as a leader you need to find ways to get noticed in wider context.
Identify opportunities to deliver keynotes and townhalls, where you can showcase your expertise and vision to people across the business. Challenge yourself to speak at external conferences and events, representing your organisation as well as raising your profile.
When you get on stage, the way you communicate, verbally and non-verbally, speaks volumes before your message is even heard. Be conscious of posture, tone, and language. To project to a larger audience, practice increasing the volume of your voice (unless you have a mic which will do it for you) and using larger, more expansive gestures.
Quick tip: Projection is also valuable when you need to ‘cut into’ a conversation or get your voice heard over and above others. Avoid hedging language (“just,” “hopefully,” “sort of”) and speak in short, structured points.
The Bottom Line
In a new role, you only get one chance to make a first leadership impression. But that impression doesn’t have to be perfect. It needs to be authentically you, powerfully present, and grounded in the values that drive real influence.
Gravitas isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you build. As you step into this next chapter, remember:
“When you lead with gravitas, you don’t have to prove your worth—you simply embody it.” — Leading with Gravitas
Want to go deeper?
If you found this useful, explore the full framework and practical tools in Leading with Gravitas. Whether you’re stepping into your first executive role or leading a new team, this guide will help you grow your inner confidence and outer impact—without losing who you are.
