--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are six elements of gravitas…" description: "\"There are six elements of gravitas critical to leadership: grace under fire, decisiveness, emotional intelligence and the ability to read a room, integ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/sylvia-ann-hewlett-26752_ability_there-are-six-elements-of-gravitas-criti_1396261.jpg" --- # There are six elements of gravitas critical to leadership… ![“There are six elements of gravitas critical to leadership: grace under fire, decisiveness, emotional intelligence and the ability to read a room, integrity and authenticity (people don't like fakes), a vision that inspires others, and a stellar reputation.” quote by Sylvia Ann Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/sylvia-ann-hewlett-26752_ability_there-are-six-elements-of-gravitas-criti_1396261.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/sylvia-ann-hewlett-26752_ability_there-are-six-elements-of-gravitas-criti_1396261.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/sylvia-ann-hewlett-26752_ability_there-are-six-elements-of-gravitas-criti_1396261.jpg) > “There are six elements of gravitas critical to leadership: grace under fire, decisiveness, emotional intelligence and the ability to read a room, integrity and authenticity (people don't like fakes), a vision that inspires others, and a stellar reputation.” [Sylvia Ann Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-ann-hewlett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective leadership blends composure, decisive action, emotional insight, honesty, inspiring vision, and a strong reputation. **In simple terms:** Leadership needs calm, decisiveness, empathy, honesty, vision, reputation. Key Takeaway Cultivate each element to lead with gravitas. Themes leadership character influence Mood confident inspirational Type advice motivational When to use this quote - team meetings - crisis management - public speaking - career advancement Key Concepts emotional intelligence authenticity strategic vision Questions to Reflect On - How do you demonstrate gravitas daily? - Which element feels hardest to develop? A Different Perspective Neglecting any element can undermine credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Authenticity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authenticity/) [Critical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical/) [Critical Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical-leadership-4880676/) [Decisiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisiveness/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Elements Gravitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements-gravitas-4880675/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Emotional intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional-intelligence/) [Fake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fake/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Gravitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gravitas/) [Gravitas Critical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gravitas-critical-4880673/) [Inspire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspire/) [Inspire others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspire-others/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leadership Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-grace-4880674/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) [Rooms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooms/) [Six](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/six/) [Stellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stellar/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) ## Related quotes > [Learning how to respond to and master the process of change - and even to excel at it - is a critical leadership skill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-james/learning-how-to-respond-to-and-master-the-process-of-change-and-even/) [Jennifer James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-james/) > [Authenticity is critical to leadership. That means trying to be yourself - this involves some self-disclosure, admitting what you don't know and being willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/authenticity-is-critical-to-leadership-that-means-trying-to-be/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [I think there is a certain gravitas about me. My energy can be very big and yet contained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-marvel/i-think-there-is-a-certain-gravitas-about-me-my-energy-can-be-very/) [Elizabeth Marvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-marvel/) > [Part of me also knows that this generation is the least racist and most pro-gay, so that's great. But they have a real lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/part-of-me-also-knows-that-this-generation-is-the-least-racist-and/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [Bikers, in general, have just been so attractive to people. Photographers would follow them because there's this weird warrior gravitas that comes with it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hurst/bikers-in-general-have-just-been-so-attractive-to-people/) [Ryan Hurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hurst/) > [There is nothing gutsier to me than a person announcing that their story is one that deserves to be told, especially if that person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/there-is-nothing-gutsier-to-me-than-a-person-announcing-that-their/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I gravitate towards gravitas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/i-gravitate-towards-gravitas/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [I think there's a settled quality, there's a gravitas that comes with aging and with being a parent because you certainly come to recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-bratt/i-think-there-s-a-settled-quality-there-s-a-gravitas-that-comes-with/) [Benjamin Bratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-bratt/) > [I feel I have a certain gravitas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biju-menon/i-feel-i-have-a-certain-gravitas/) [Biju Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biju-menon/) > [You're allowed to have gravitas when you've got the wrinkles to prove it, but not when you're attractive and younger - or, at least,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariella-frostrup/you-re-allowed-to-have-gravitas-when-you-ve-got-the-wrinkles-to-prove/) [Mariella Frostrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariella-frostrup/) > [These poems possess intelligence, erudition, gravitas and urgency. Serious and moving in voice and ambition, this passionately lyrical and articulate work reminds me very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hoagland/these-poems-possess-intelligence-erudition-gravitas-and-urgency/) [Tony Hoagland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hoagland/) > [Those who have never suffered the iniquities of exile cannot possibly understand the significance, the gravitas, of a mattress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-dorfman/those-who-have-never-suffered-the-iniquities-of-exile-cannot-possibly/) [Ariel Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-dorfman/) > [I wasn't allowed to be clever when I was young and blonde, but now I am 50 and an old blonde, I am allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariella-frostrup/i-wasn-t-allowed-to-be-clever-when-i-was-young-and-blonde-but-now-i/) [Mariella Frostrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariella-frostrup/) > [It's curiosity, and always a sense of poetry. You see it in particular in the chapter "Iceland" where I'm reciting ancient Icelandic poetry. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/it-s-curiosity-and-always-a-sense-of-poetry-you-see-it-in-particular/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [It would be awesome to be so impressive that we could sway people to our way of thinking just by declaiming our thoughts, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/it-would-be-awesome-to-be-so-impressive-that-we-could-sway-people-to/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) ## More by Sylvia Ann Hewlett > [For women the wage gap sets up an infuriating Catch-22 situation. They do the housework because they earn less, and they earn lessbecause they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ann-hewlett/for-women-the-wage-gap-sets-up-an-infuriating-catch-22-situation-they/) [Sylvia Ann Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-ann-hewlett/) > [ Fashions change, and with the new psychoanalytical perspective of the postwar period \[WWII\], child rearing became enshrined as thespecial responsibility of mothersany shortcoming in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ann-hewlett/fashions-change-and-with-the-new-psychoanalytical-perspective-of-the/) [Sylvia Ann Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-ann-hewlett/) > [The decision to have a child is both a private and a public decision, for children are our collective future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ann-hewlett/the-decision-to-have-a-child-is-both-a-private-and-a-public-decision/) [Sylvia Ann Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-ann-hewlett/) > [“Star performers are very likely to attract sponsors, and loyal performers are very likely to keep them. But if they fail to distinguish themselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ann-hewlett/star-performers-are-very-likely-to-attract-sponsors-and-loyal/) [Sylvia Ann Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-ann-hewlett/) > [“Sponsorship, done right, is transactional. It’s an implicit or even explicit strategic alliance, a long-range quid pro quo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ann-hewlett/sponsorship-done-right-is-transactional-it-s-an-implicit-or-even/) [Sylvia Ann Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-ann-hewlett/) > [“It is executive presence—and no man or woman attains a top job, lands an extraordinary deal, or develops a significant following without this heady…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ann-hewlett/it-is-executive-presence-and-no-man-or-woman-attains-a-top-job-lands/) [Sylvia Ann Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-ann-hewlett/) > [“Do your job well, make sure your boss is fully informed, and don’t be afraid to ask for help,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ann-hewlett/do-your-job-well-make-sure-your-boss-is-fully-informed-and-don-t-be/) [Sylvia Ann Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-ann-hewlett/) > [Recently we've been hearing a lot about women "having it all." Myself, I think that is not really an accurate description of female lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ann-hewlett/recently-we-ve-been-hearing-a-lot-about-women-having-it-all-myself-i/) [Sylvia Ann Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-ann-hewlett/) > [“how you act (gravitas), how you speak (communication), and how you look (appearance) count for a lot in determining your leadership presence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ann-hewlett/how-you-act-gravitas-how-you-speak-communication-and-how-you-look/) [Sylvia Ann Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-ann-hewlett/) > [The feedback women are getting at work is amazingly ineffective or vague. You need to signal to your boss or senior colleagues that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ann-hewlett/the-feedback-women-are-getting-at-work-is-amazingly-ineffective-or/) [Sylvia Ann Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-ann-hewlett/) > [Women have made enormous progress on the lower and middle rungs of the career ladder, but we are failing to make the leap into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ann-hewlett/women-have-made-enormous-progress-on-the-lower-and-middle-rungs-of/) [Sylvia Ann Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-ann-hewlett/) > [Quite simply, promotions are not just functions of ability, values, or the numbers you hit, but also rest critically on how you are perceived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ann-hewlett/quite-simply-promotions-are-not-just-functions-of-ability-values-or/) [Sylvia Ann Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-ann-hewlett/) > [“classic female mistake. I thought that it was all about doing my job extraordinarily well. If I put my head down and worked as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ann-hewlett/classic-female-mistake-i-thought-that-it-was-all-about-doing-my-job/) [Sylvia Ann Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-ann-hewlett/) > [American feminists have generally stressed the ways in which men and women should be equal and have therefore tried to put aside differences… Social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ann-hewlett/american-feminists-have-generally-stressed-the-ways-in-which-men-and/) [Sylvia Ann Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-ann-hewlett/) > [Modern women are squeezed between the devil and the deep blue sea, and there are no lifeboats out there in the form of public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ann-hewlett/modern-women-are-squeezed-between-the-devil-and-the-deep-blue-sea-and/) [Sylvia Ann Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-ann-hewlett/) [Explore all 21 Sylvia Ann Hewlett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-ann-hewlett/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are six elements of gravitas critical to leadership: grace under fire, decisiveness, emotional intelligence and the ability to read a room, integrity and authenticity (people don't like fakes), a vision that inspires others, and a stellar reputation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sylvia Ann Hewlett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ann-hewlett/there-are-six-elements-of-gravitas-critical-to-leadership-grace-under/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ann-hewlett/there-are-six-elements-of-gravitas-critical-to-leadership-grace-under/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/sylvia-ann-hewlett-26752_ability_there-are-six-elements-of-gravitas-criti_1396261.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/sylvia-ann-hewlett-26752_ability_there-are-six-elements-of-gravitas-criti_1396261.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/sylvia-ann-hewlett-26752_ability_there-are-six-elements-of-gravitas-criti_1396261.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are six elements of gravitas critical to leadership: grace under fire, decisiveness, emotional…” — Sylvia Ann Hewlett", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sylvia Ann Hewlett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-ann-hewlett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There are six elements of gravitas...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ann-hewlett/there-are-six-elements-of-gravitas-critical-to-leadership-grace-under/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ann-hewlett/there-are-six-elements-of-gravitas-critical-to-leadership-grace-under/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```