Executive Presence: Turn Competence Into Confidence

Have you ever held back in a meeting, knowing precisely what you wanted to say, but hesitated to do so?  I have.

Early in my career, I sat in rooms where I knew the answer, but a quiet voice whispered, “What if I’m wrong?” I’d hesitate, and moments later, someone else would share nearly the same idea, and the room would light up.

Those moments taught me something I’ve never forgotten.  It’s not always the best idea that gets heard.

It’s the voice that carries confidence.

 If you’ve ever left a meeting thinking, I should have spoken up, you’re not alone.  Many brilliant, capable leaders have been there.  The truth is, they don’t need more competence.  They need more presence.

 “Executive presence isn’t what you say.  It’s what others feel in your presence.” — Susan Robertson

 What Does It Mean to Have Executive Presence?

One of my earliest clients, William, helped me understand what executive presence truly entails.

He had confidence, composure, and gravitas.

He was approachable, authentic, and human.  He wasn’t the loudest voice in the room, but when he spoke, people listened.  William showed me that presence isn’t about being perfect or polished.  It’s about how you think under pressure, communicate with clarity, lead with conviction when outcomes are uncertain, and stay connected to others.

He never pretended to know everything.  He invited others in, listened deeply, and incorporated what he heard into his thinking.

 Harvard Business Review defines executive presence as “the ability to project confidence and credibility under stress.” That’s true. However, in my experience, when you add connection to confidence, you create actual executive presence.

 Connection and confidence create true executive presence.

People don’t just hear your words; they sense your Steadiness, your self-trust, and your ability to navigate complexity with calm authority.

Competence may open the door, but presence decides who walks through it.

The Four Dimensions of Executive Presence™

Steadiness.  Synchronize.  Share.  Serve.

 Some people seem to exude presence and influence naturally, but it’s not necessarily an innate quality.  It’s learnable.

 Executive presence grows through four dimensions, each deepening your influence from the inside out.

1.     When you embody Steadiness, your confidence grounds others.

2.     When you Synchronize, your words and actions align.

3.     When you Share, people feel seen and valued.

4.     And when you Serve, your leadership moves beyond authority into purpose.

This article introduces all four dimensions.  Future editions will delve deeper into each, enabling you to strengthen your presence in every room you enter.

1.  Steadiness: The Confidence Within

Have you ever felt your heart race before speaking up, even when you knew exactly what to say?

You start strong, but as pressure rises, you second-guess yourself or over-explain to sound convincing.

That’s not a lack of skill.  It’s a loss of Steadiness.

Steadiness is the foundation of presence.  It is the quiet confidence that keeps you grounded even when the room, or your emotions, start to spin.

 One of my clients, Jim, was being considered for the CEO position. Everyone respected him.  He was humble, intelligent, and emotionally steady, but when challenged in conversation, he would freeze. His face turned red, and he hesitated.

The board didn’t question his intelligence.  They questioned his composure and Steadiness.

 We worked on Steadiness: learning to recognize tension before it took over, pausing, breathing, and resetting.  He practiced regulating his energy instead of reacting to it.

What helped him:

• Pause before you respond. Create space between reaction and response.

• Breathe and lower your tone. Calm energy signals confidence.

• Visualize pressure before it happens. See yourself steady and grounded as you answer tough questions.

Confidence is built through preparation and self-trust.  Composure is what happens when self-trust meets pressure.

When you steady yourself first, others will find their confidence in you.

 2.  Synchronize: Aligning Intention with Expression

 Have you ever left a meeting thinking, That’s not what I meant to say?

You prepared your points, even practiced, but something about the delivery fell short. That gap between what you mean and what people hear, that’s where Synchronize begins.

People don’t just hear what you say.  They feel how you say it.

When your tone, message, and presence align, people trust you.  When they don’t, even the right idea can fall flat.

So how do you synchronize what you want to say with the impact you want to have?

1. Prepare the message. Know your key points — what you need to communicate clearly and effectively.

2. Prepare for the impact. Ask, “Why does this information matter to these people?  How do I want them to feel them to feel when they leave:  confident or uncertain, reassured or confused?”

3. Lead with impact. Start with the “so what.” State the outcome first, then support it with reasoning and data.

You don’t need perfect words.  You need aligned ones.

When your intention and expression match, your voice carries credibility, and people listen.

3.  Share: Building Relational Connection

Presence isn’t just what you project.  It’s what you evoke in others.

Nearly every leader I’ve met with executive presence in has one thing in common: they know how to connect, not through charm or charisma, but through empathy.

Connection doesn’t come from having the correct answer.  It comes from emotional alignment when others feel you understand them.

One of my clients, Terry, was admired for her intellect but described as “hard to read.” She didn’t mean to be distant; she simply led with logic.

Through coaching, she learned to slow down, listen for emotion, and respond with empathy instead of explanation.

 If you want to strengthen connection and trust, start here:

1. Listen for emotion, not just information. Respond to what people feel, not just what they say.

2. Ask before you advise. Curiosity creates ownership.

3. Match your energy to the moment. When the room is tense, bring calm.  When it’s quiet, bring curiosity.

Presence grows in the space between your words and their response.

4.  Serve: Leading with Purpose and Credibility

The highest expression of executive presence is service.  Leaders with strong presence often ask one powerful question:

“How can I help?”

It’s simple, but it shifts everything.  It brings others into the conversation, builds partnership, and signals humility.  The best leaders elevate others.  They give credit freely, express gratitude often, and make others feel valued.

The best leaders elevate others.

 Three ways to lead through service:

1. Ask, “How can I help?”

2. Give credit to others for their ideas.

3. Express gratitude often and specifically.

You can’t fake service.  People feel it.  When your Steadiness, clarity, and connection all point toward purpose, your leadership becomes unforgettable.

Final Reflection

• Confidence is not arrogance.  It’s self-trust in motion.

• Composure is not silence.  It’s strength under pressure.

• Connection is not softness.  It’s influence through empathy.

When these come together, your presence speaks before you do.

If you’ve ever waited for the “right moment” to speak, consider this your moment.  Because your ideas, your insight, your leadership deserve to be heard.

If you want to have more impact and presence, if you want your ideas and your voice to carry the room, join me for the Executive Edge Masterclass, where we’ll discuss three strategies to help you create your executive distinction.

November 13, 11am: https://portal.lcbgroup.com/ex-path-mc-LINsltrOCTNOV25-lp1

December 4, 11am: https://portal.lcbgroup.com/ex-path-mc-LISM120425AM-lp1