( CNN ) -- The C-Suite . Near mythical in status . The Valhalla you reach in corporate life when you 've made it . So , how do you get there ? The tried and tested route of hard work and influence gets you a long way certainly . Stellar performance gets you noticed . A powerful network , an influential sponsor can give you a turbo boost on your way up . But though they will take you far , when it comes to the C-Suite , what gets you here -- as they say -- wo n't take you there . So , what is the difference that makes the difference when it comes to getting to the top ? In interviews with 268 senior executives , the Center for Talent Innovation researched what marked out their people as destined for the top . They isolated three key qualities for success in corporate life : gravitas , communication and appearance . Gravitas mattered most , with 67 % of those surveyed naming it as the crucial quality . Gravitas marks you out as having what it takes to lead . And if you want to understand how gravitas works , and to harness it in your life , the best place to start is the ancient world . Gravitas is a Roman word which translates dignity , impressiveness , seriousness , influence , weight and presence . And what the Romans understood but the modern world seems to have forgotten is that , to borrow from Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius , it 's possible for all of us to learn to `` carry yourself with authority . '' In my book `` Gravitas : Communicate With Confidence , Influence and Authority ( Random House ) 2014 , '' I explore what the ancient world has to teach us in the modern age about unlocking our innate gravitas . And if I were to share the absolute essential aspect of gravitas to success in leadership it would be your ability , as `` pilot of the plane , '' to handle turbulence . Stability is the essence of gravitas . Stable equilibrium is defined in physics as , `` A state in which the body tends to return to its original position after being disturbed . '' This inner emotional ballast is also key when it comes to gravitas . The Sanskrit word `` guru '' means `` weighty one , '' implying someone who can not easily be knocked over . This stability -- emotionally , psychologically , physically -- is key to your gravitas . I learned most about this principle from a coach called Yoda ( his nickname because of the wisdom he exudes ) . Yoda transforms the people he works with -- from having jerky , twitchy faces and voices and the knee-jerk reactions of people trying to cope with unsustainable workloads and stressful demands , they take on a far more grounded , centered presence ; they seem wiser , more resourceful ; and they get results -- big time . So , of course , I asked Yoda his secret . What became clear was that Yoda was teaching his clients that you have to be aware of and able to lead yourself before you effectively lead others . Yoda told me a story about one of the young leaders at managing director ( MD ) level . The MD was focused and ambitious and had started to do the mindfulness practice Yoda had suggested for him . At the beginning of each day he 'd spend 10 minutes becoming calm and centered . It paid off . One day he found himself confronted directly by the chairman in a board meeting . Yoda watched as three times the chairman attacked the young MD 's ideas . Each time the MD calmly and confidently held his ground , swinging the discussion round to his point of view . The chair , disarmed by the MD 's calm , graceful and focused response to his attack , started to listen . He agreed to the MD 's recommendations . Later that day the MD got a call from the CEO of the organization , who 'd watched this exchange of views in the board meeting : `` We 've got 10 new jobs going in the management restructure , which one do you want ? '' By staying present and steady the MD had communicated his ideas without creating an argument and without caving in . He 'd held his ground and found his stability even as the political terrain shifted . He had emanated gravitas . Others noticed and his life changed as a result . Leadership of the self starts with knowing yourself . As Yoda told me , self-awareness is key : `` It helps you find a deep and compassionate center in yourself where you 're not dislodged or anxious because of what 's going on around you . You 've got an internal source -- your capacity , your own intelligence . When you learn to rest into that ... it expresses itself through your voice and your own consciousness . '' As the Romans understood very well , your ability to manage yourself is a reflection of your leadership of a wider sphere . If you can be trusted to stand firm under pressure it suggests you might be able to manage others . And as the ancient world understood , calming the body is as key as educating the mind . In modern times you 'd do well to learn from them if you want to make your way to the C-Suite . READ THIS : How to channel anger , lust and greed . READ THIS : Five ways to resign in style . The views expressed in this commentary are solely those of Caroline Goyder .
Senior executives have named gravitas as the key quality for business success . Caroline Goyder says everyone can learn how to carry themselves with authority . She says that the ancient world can help executives unlock their inner gravitas . The best way to get your boss on board is by showing him or her a picture of yourself in a suit and tie, she says.