How to Develop Executive Presence

We often get asked “How do I develop my executive presence?”

We turned to our database and analyzed what leadership communication characteristics create the most impact for executive presenters, and what we found, overwhelmingly, is that the most important characteristic of executive presence is self-confidence.

Looking into the data, self-confidence is driven by the following three key categories:

First, the Basics (your visuals)

• Professional dress and appearance
• Clean and appropriate grooming

Second, the Presentation (your voice and verbals)

• Finding your true and authentic voice
• Identifying and leveraging your communication assets
• Preparation and willingness to deal with the unpredictable

Finally, the Charisma (your vitals)

• Your social Intelligence
• Personal Authenticity
• Expressing your values and vision

So how do you know if you’ve already got executive presence? You don’t. Few people possess that level of self-awareness and objectivity. But like most things, with intention and practice, it can be developed. So don’t be afraid to ask someone for feedback.