A 3-Step Strategy to Improve Executive Presence—Without Losing Yourself

When someone tells you to “work on your executive presence”—but can’t explain how—it feels like being handed a riddle with no answer key.

You're left guessing what to change. And the stakes feel high: if you ask for clarity, it might confirm their doubt. (After all, if you're in a leadership role—or aspiring to one—shouldn’t you already know what that means?)

But executive presence isn’t charisma. It’s not about being polished or perfect.
It’s visible behavior. And it’s absolutely something you can build—without pretending to be someone you’re not.

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What Executive Presence Really Means

Presence isn’t just what you do.
It’s how others experience you.

People with strong executive presence tend to project clarity, confidence, and calm. They speak with intention. They create space. They know when to lean in—and when to hold back.

But here’s where a lot of smart, capable leaders get stuck: they think “executive presence” means acting like someone else.
Someone louder. More commanding. More buttoned-up.

And that’s where the damage starts. Because the more they try to imitate someone else’s version of leadership, the less their actual leadership comes through.

One of the biggest misconceptions about executive presence is that you have to become someone you’re not.
The opposite is true. The most effective leaders double down on who they are—and get more intentional about how they signal it.

As one of my clients put it:

“Angela’s coaching offered a path to leadership growth that didn’t ask me to set aside my principles or way of thinking—something I hadn’t expected, but was grateful to find.”
—DL, R&D Executive, Biotech

And here’s why that matters:
If you try to “act” executive in a way that doesn’t feel like you, it won’t hold.

It’s exhausting. And in moments of pressure—which are inevitable—you’ll default back to what’s natural.
When that happens, the gap between how you’ve been showing up and who you really are becomes obvious—and it erodes trust.

Sustainable presence doesn’t come from mimicry. It comes from clarity.
The clearer you are on your authentic leadership style, the easier it is to show up consistently—and be experienced the way you intend.

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A Real Example: From Rushed to Ready

One of my clients—let’s call her Priya—was told by her CEO to “work on her presence.”

She took it seriously. Straighter posture. Polished language. Taking up more space in meetings.

But nothing changed.

And she was too embarrassed to ask what her CEO actually meant—afraid that just asking the question would prove she didn’t have it.

When we ran a 360, the theme was clear: she always seemed rushed. Jumping in. Solving problems. Moving fast.

What she thought was efficiency was coming across as reactivity.
And it was undercutting her credibility—especially with her team. They didn’t have space to think. She was solving everything for them.

So we ran a simple experiment: before every meeting, she paused—three breaths, one intention. No rushing in.

That small shift changed how people experienced her.
She listened more. Spoke less. Her team stepped up.
And she stopped being the bottleneck.

Her presence changed—because her behavior did.

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A Simpler Way to Build Executive Presence

This is how I coach presence:
Not with vague advice, but with a behavioral lens.

Here’s the 3-step approach I use with clients. Try it for yourself:

1️⃣ Ask for Behavioral Feedback

Reach out to 5–10 people you work closely with. Ask:

• When have you seen me demonstrate strong executive presence?

• What specific behaviors undermine it?

You’re not asking about personality. You’re asking about what they observe.

2️⃣ Spot the Patterns

What do you hear?

• Do you seem rushed or reactive?

• Hold back too much?

• Interrupt or overtalk?

• Use too many qualifiers?

Look for patterns. Don’t overanalyze—just notice.

3️⃣ Pick One Behavior to Practice

Choose one. Keep it small and doable.

• If you rush: pause for three breaths before every meeting.

• If you rarely speak up: contribute at least once per discussion.

• If you interrupt: count to three before responding.

Practice it. Stick with it. Then ask what people are noticing.

This is how you make presence visible—and build it over time.

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Why Coaching Helps

You can absolutely do this on your own.
But when feedback is vague—and your reputation is on the line—it’s hard to decode what actually matters.

A good coach helps you:

• Cut through the noise

• Spot the behavior behind the perception

• Run small experiments that shift how people experience you

Executive presence isn’t about being perfect.
It’s about being intentional—on your terms.

Want help turning vague feedback into visible credibility?
Let’s talk. Schedule a consultation.

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✨ PS: Not sure if your company will pay for coaching?

Take this quick quiz to find out if you have a strong business case for executive coaching. Answer 10 simple questions to get insider tips on how to position yourself as a strategic, proactive leader—and secure your company’s support for professional growth.

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