JWI 505: Business Communications and Executive Presence
Academic Submissions and Evaluation
© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University.
JWI 505 – Assignment 1 (1206) Page 1 of 4
Assignment 1: Your Leadership Values, Executive Presence, and Winning
Due Week 3, Sunday (Weight 10%)
JWMI is the place where leaders are made. You are here to transform your life, lead teams to success, and grow
your organization. As a leader, speaking candidly about your leadership values and communication strengths,
while being present and authentic will help you to build connections and to establish relationships of trust.
For this assignment, you will apply the key concepts from Weeks 1- 3 to deliver a video message on your
leadership values, executive presence, or what winning means to you. The video message will provide an
opportunity for you to practice your executive presence and interpersonal communication skills.
While you record your video, you will also be delivering your message to an audience. You will find there is a
difference between speaking to a camera and speaking to another person. As a leader, you will speak to many
people every day.
This should be a video of just you. No PowerPoint or other props are needed. Your communication should be
clear with main points that are simple and easy to recall. Embrace a tone that is professional, reflecting your
leadership values and passionate purpose.
Instructions:
Create a short video, using Zoom, addressing one of the three prompts below. Your video should last 1 to 3 minutes, but no longer than 3 minutes. Use your interpersonal communication skills and speak with executive presence. See the Best Practices below to guide you in achieving this.
Deliver and record your presentation to an audience consisting of at least one person over the age of 18. Your audience member may join you on Zoom or in person. Suggested audience members include a classmate, a friend, or a family member. If you are unable to find an audience member, you may present to your professor. Whether your audience member is in-person or on Zoom, please make sure to face the camera and look into your webcam as you present. If your audience member is in person, they can say hi or wave at the camera before you begin; they can sit behind the camera or next to it, but they do not have to be on screen while you present.
Choose one of the topics below:
1. Identify 1-3 leadership values that are most important to you. Explain the reasons for their importance, using the below questions as a guide:
a. Why are these values important to you?
b. As a leader, why are these values essential for effective communication?
c. How do these values impact/support your executive presence?
JWI 505: Business Communications and Executive Presence
Academic Submissions and Evaluation
© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University.
JWI 505 – Assignment 1 (1206) Page 2 of 4
2. Discuss a business leader (other than Jack Welch) who exhibits executive presence.
a. In what ways does this leader exhibit executive presence?
b. What aspects of their executive presence appeal to you? Why?
c. How does your leadership style compare to this leader’s?
3. Jack defines winning as, “Growing yourself, your organization, and your teams.” Describe what winning means for you.
a. What does winning look like for you?
b. Why is it important to you?
c. How do your leadership values support winning for you?
Executive Presence and Strategic Communication Best Practices:
Remember to focus on utilizing and exhibiting the following:
✓ Speak directly to the camera
✓ State your intent and purpose at the onset
✓ Speak confidently, expressively, with passionate purpose and energy
✓ Be authentic and fully present in an engaging manner
✓ Build a connection with your audience
✓ Your communication must be organized, flow logically, and use “beginnings and endings”
✓ Introduce yourself at the beginning and thank your audience for listening at the end
Aside from having strong content, your appearance must demonstrate professionalism in the following ways:
✓ Exude your executive presence by looking professional (business casual or business attire) ✓ Make sure your background is free from clutter; you do not want to distract your audience
✓ Make sure your surroundings are quiet (e.g., no children, animals, cars, music, or other extraneous noise in the background)
Suggestions:
• Practice in front of a trusted colleague, friend, or family member, asking for feedback on your vocal
and physical presence, and the effect your message had on them
• To get the best results with Zoom, please work on a computer rather than a Chromebook, mobile
device, or iPad
JWI 505: Business Communications and Executive Presence
Academic Submissions and Evaluation
© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University.
JWI 505 – Assignment 1 (1206) Page 3 of 4
Assignment 1: Rubric
Weight: 10% Assignment 1: Your Leadership Values, Executive Presence, and Winning
Criteria Unsatisfactory Low Pass Pass High Pass Honors
1. Address one of the follow three prompts.
Weight: 30%
a. Identify 1-3 personal leadership values and explain the reasons for their importance.
Student does not or unsatisfactorily identifies 1-3 personal leadership values and does not explain the reasons for their importance.
Student partially identifies 1-3 personal leadership values or partially explains the reasons for their importance.
Student identifies 1-3 personal leadership values and satisfactorily explains the reasons for their importance.
Student identifies 1-3 personal leadership values and fully explains the reasons for their importance.
Student identifies 1-3 personal leadership values and exemplarily explains the reasons for their importance.
b. Discuss a business leader who exhibits executive presence and compare this business leader’s style to your leadership style.
Does not or unsatisfactorily explains how the business leader exhibits executive presence, or does not compare the business leader’s style to your leadership style.
Partially explains how the business leader exhibits executive presence, or partially compares the business leader’s style to your leadership style.
Satisfactorily explains how the business leader exhibits executive presence, and clearly compares the business leader’s style to your leadership style.
Explains clearly and succinctly how the business leader exhibits executive presence, and provides a good comparison of the business leader’s style and your leadership style.
Explains in an exemplary manner how the business leader exhibits executive presence, and provides an excellent comparison of the business leader’s style and your leadership style.
c. Describe what winning means to you, and explain how your leadership values support winning for you.
Does not describe what winning means to you, or does not explain how your leadership values support winning for you.
Partially describes what winning means to you, or partially explains how your leadership values support winning for you.
Satisfactorily describes what winning means to you, and explains well how your leadership values support winning for you.
Completely describes what winning means to you, and explains very clearly and succinctly how your leadership values support winning for you.
Describes in an exemplary manner what winning means to you, and explains excellently how your leadership values support winning for you.
JWI 505: Business Communications and Executive Presence
Academic Submissions and Evaluation
© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University.
JWI 505 – Assignment 1 (1206) Page 4 of 4
Weight: 10% Assignment 1: Your Leadership Values, Executive Presence, and Winning
Criteria Unsatisfactory Low Pass Pass High Pass Honors
2. The student communicates confidently and strategically, building a good connection with the audience. They display a strong executive presence.
Weight: 30%
Does not communicate confidently and with executive presence, and does not build a good connection with the audience.
Partially communicates confidently and with executive presence, and builds a partial connection with the audience.
Communicates fairly confidently and with executive presence, and builds a good connection with the audience.
Communicates very confidently and with executive presence, and builds a very good connection with the audience.
Communicates extremely confidently and with executive presence, and builds an excellent connection with the audience.
3. The video, which is filmed in Zoom, has a professional look and feel, with appropriate attire and a quiet, uncluttered setting. At least one audience member is present.
Weight: 30%
The video does not have a professional look and feel. It lacks appropriate attire and/or a quiet, uncluttered setting. There is no audience member present.
The video has a partially professional look and feel, with appropriate attire and a reasonably quiet, uncluttered setting. An audience member may be present.
The video has a satisfactorily professional look and feel, with appropriate attire and a quiet, uncluttered setting. An audience member is present.
The video has a good and effective professional look and feel, with appropriate attire and a quiet, uncluttered setting. An audience member is present.
The video has an exemplary and very professional look and feel, with appropriate attire and a quiet, uncluttered setting. An audience member is present.
4. The video adheres to the 1 to 3 minute time limit.
Weight: 10%
The video is over the 3 minute time limit by more than 2 minutes.
The video is over the 3 minute time limit, but by no more than 2 minutes.
The video is over the 3 minute time limit by no more than 1 minute.
The video is over the 3 minute time limit by no more than 30 seconds.
The video adheres to the 1 to 3 minute time limit.
