- The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

That's true about the four factors

that drive executive presence.

When they all work well, they all work together.

But to understand them better, to use them better,

to zero in on where you can make

your most valuable improvements, we need to split them up

and look at each factor one by one.

But before we do, and to remind ourselves

how strength of presence multiplies

when all four factors align, let's tie together

what we've covered so far by adding a few more insights

to our first example.

Nelson Mandela loses the first presidential debate

to F.W. de Klerk, and at that moment

of significant potential public embarrassment,

frustration, and loss of confidence,

he immediately turns it around

by reaching out to the de Klerk and saying

for the whole country and the whole world to hear,

"Thank you for being a true son of Africa."

First factor, the foundation, passion.

It was Mandela's passion for positive change

that was the foundation for his actions

at the end of the debate, and his many future examples

of executive presence.

The problem he dedicated his life to solving

after 50 horrible years of apartheid,

himself being imprisoned for more than half that time

was to bring his country together.

That's passion.

Second factor, perspective, thinking patterns.

Leading by example often starts with thinking by example.

Mandela's thinking after the debate wasn't dominated

by self-driven concerns about mistakes or distracted

by how negatively he might appear to others.

Instead, he was 100% present in the moment

and alert to the positive possibilities still available.

He didn't even seem to think of de Klerk

as an opponent to defeat, but a partner to enlist

in the larger cause of their country.

That's perspective.

Third factor, poise, emotional patterns.

Whatever emotions might naturally occur in that moment,

disappointment, frustration, embarrassment,

Mandela makes room for other more functional feelings too,

pride, determination.

He seems to treat the debate setback not as fodder

for self-indulgent personal pity, but instead as a signal

to go back to his broader purpose

and gain confidence from that.

His passion for positive change is solid

and something always to draw strength from

and to feel good about, even at the very moment of failure.

That's poise.

Fourth factor, projection, action patterns.

At the end of the debate,

Mandela was decisive in his physical movement,

concise with his words and profound in his impact.

Notice the key is not that he made

a good verbal counterpoint.

In his actions, Mandela embodied his passion

for positive change.

He was the example of a united South Africa

joining with his opponent and treating him with respect,

dignity and utter confidence that together

they were on an important path bigger than both of them,

elevating above the divisive us versus them format

of the current debate and the past tragic history

of the country.

That's projection.

The habits are the patterns we've been talking about;

thinking patterns, emotional patterns, action patterns.

First, we need to cover them in more detail, but after that,

when we put them together, as you'll see,

the combined executive presence effect

is much greater than the mere some of the parts.

(upbeat music)