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Make sure your wardrobe matches your status and exudes the executive presence you want it to so your nonverbal cues further enhance your statements.
Doesn’t have to be fancy, it has to be professional. You shouldn’t change your face but if you’ve got a top knot for an important meeting, you’re going to be perceived differently than someone with a blowout.
Like if a dude had a golf shirt, you’d consider him differently than another who is in a button down.
I agree - call it out. Something lighthearted, but pointed would be good, like "I'll never get tired of people thinking I look too young to be the COO; glad the stress of my role and responsibilities isn't showing!"
Call it out. The more we politely laugh it off, the longer we stay invisible. Let people sit in their discomfort instead of cushioning their bias.
If you have mentors at the COO level, maybe get some feedback on how present yourself.
Posture, type of outfits, how you walk into a room, even vocabulary you are using.
For example, I know of a technology manager who recently became one of the top CIOs. Her initial standing posture and types of outfits were great for behind the scenes IT world. But being more of a front facing role, ill fitting outfits and messy buns won’t fly.
I don’t know how she did this transformation; but within 6 months she had better fitting outfits (for her body shape), more purposeful walk and her body posture showed more confidence. Didn’t change her hair or body type (loose/gain weight). Just got confident in her role.
I don’t think there’s an easy fix to gendered societal views.
This
At your age I wore glasses and more structured clothes in darker colors and that helped curb some of those comments.
I'm currently working on my executive presence, there are courses on linked in, but I'm also talking to a friend that works in PR for "media training". The other things I'm considering are in person executive presence training at Berkeley or an online option at Wharton.
I have changed my wardrobe a little, but my focus has been more about command of the room, non verbal cues and making sure I look the part. I don't think of it as overperforming as much as it is getting into character.