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✨Building Executive Presence – 7 Practical Ways
- katrincharlton
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
It’s not a gift—it’s a skill. One that’s developed over time through self-awareness, practice, and a fair bit of inner work.
Even the most composed leaders I’ve met didn’t start that way. Many share stories of being overlooked, uncertain, or not quite fitting in. Just think of Steve Jobs—once a quirky, rebellious teenager who didn’t follow the rules. And yet, over time, he developed a presence that shaped entire industries.
Presence isn’t about polish or performance. It’s about growth, intention, and how you choose to show up—especially in the moments that matter.
In my work with leaders—and in developing my own coaching approach—I’ve found Sylvia Ann Hewlett’s three-pillar model of executive presence to be especially helpful:
🔹 Gravitas – how you act
🔹 Communication – how you speak
🔹 Appearance – how you look
In training, we break these down further—exploring them through the lens of neuroscience, mindset, and embodiment.
From Awareness to Action
Some may get a head start—through early exposure, confidence-building environments, or natural charisma. But for most of us, executive presence is something we learn—just like any other leadership skill.
From what I’ve seen in coaching, boardrooms, and my own journey—it’s absolutely possible to build. That said, it’s not always how leadership books describe it. Many place emphasis on outward polish, but what Sylvia Ann Hewlett found is that gravitas—how you carry yourself, make decisions, and stay grounded—is the most powerful (and most intangible) pillar.
I’ve always wondered what people really mean when they say someone “commands the room.”
Is it about being loud? Always speaking first?
Over time, I’ve realised it’s rarely just about volume.
Instead it’s more about connecting with the room, and doing so from a place of inner confidence.
Some leaders express that through dynamic energy.
Others through calm, grounded intention.
Neither is better than the other—both can be powerful in their own way.
The key, I believe, is coherence—being grounded in who you are and showing up with clarity and purpose. Presence isn’t about performance. It’s about alignment.
When your inner clarity and your outer behaviour match, that’s when your presence has real impact. When your words, tone, and body language align, people feel it.
They trust it.
It’s less about volume, more about clarity. Less about acting, more about being. And to get there, leaders need to tune into both themselves and others—and take action from that space of alignment.
7 Ways to Strengthen Executive Presence (No acting required)
These practical shifts have helped many of my clients—and I use them myself. They’re not about becoming someone else. They’re about becoming more you—on purpose.
1️⃣ Clarify Your Intention and Energy Before You Enter
What do I want to leave behind in this room?
What energy do I want to bring?
Not just what you want to say or prove—but the impact you want to have.
This simple pause helps you ground yourself, especially when the stakes are high. It lets you tune into the space, connect to your purpose, and show up with clarity. Small shifts in energy—calm, curiosity, focus—can change the tone of the entire conversation.
2️⃣ Tend to Your Inner Dialogue
That quiet voice inside? It matters.
If you’re telling yourself, “I don’t belong here” or “I hope I don’t mess this up,” others may not hear it—but they’ll sense it.
Try instead to connect with the version of you that feels grounded and capable.
You don’t need to be perfect—just present.
3️⃣ Practise Executive Stillness
Stillness can be magnetic.
A pause. A breath. Letting silence land.
It creates space. It signals calm. And it invites others in.
🧠Pausing, even briefly, allows your brain's prefrontal cortex to re-engage—helping you stay in thoughtful, responsive mode instead of reactive autopilot.
The challenge? When others are speaking a lot or dominating the conversation, stillness can feel risky—like you’ll be talked over or missed. However, if used with intention, stillness becomes presence.
You can also invite others into stillness with a pause: "Let’s take a moment here," or simply let silence stretch with comfort. Practice holding your pause with confidence. Make your first words count. And trust that clarity and calm often carry more weight than volume.
Not easy in fast-paced environments —but incredibly powerful.
4️⃣ Ask Thoughtful Questions
Presence isn’t about dominating the room. It’s about deepening the conversation.
Try asking:
✨ “What’s not being said here?”
✨ “What really matters right now?”
These are powerful, courageous questions—the kind that stop people in their tracks and invite reflection. They help others think deeper, and they signal that you’re really listening.
🧠 Research also suggests that asking open, reflective questions activates neural networks associated with empathy and insight—creating more connection and clarity for everyone in the room.
5️⃣ Create a Trusted Feedback Loop
We all have blind spots. Presence is no exception.
Ask someone you trust:
“How did I come across in that meeting?”
“What did you notice about my energy?”
This isn’t about people-pleasing. It’s about staying curious and intentional in how you grow.
6️⃣ Protect and Fuel Your Energy
You can’t show up with calm, grounded presence if you’re running on empty.
One client of mine—a senior leader in fintech—discovered his best days started with a 20-minute walk in silence, no phone. It helped him centre himself before big meetings.
🧠 This kind of routine protects your ‘body budget’, a concept in neuroscience that links your physical state to your emotional and cognitive capacity.
What’s your version of this? A walk, journaling, mindful breathing? Find what fills your tank—and protect it.
7️⃣ Align Your Appearance with Intention
Appearance is often misunderstood as superficial—but it’s not. It’s neuroscience.
🧠 Our brains form impressions within milliseconds. Posture, facial expression, and how we carry ourselves can trigger an instant story—often before we speak.
So this pillar isn’t about perfection. It’s about intentional alignment: dressing with awareness of what the moment calls for, and allowing your look to support your message.
Sometimes that means experimenting—trying something slightly outside your comfort zone. I challenge myself to do this regularly.
The goal isn’t to perform—it’s to align. So ask yourself:
Does how I look support what I want to say and how I want to be remembered?
Start with one intentional choice—then focus on being present.
A Few Final Reflections
Executive presence isn’t about acting the part. It’s about aligning how you think, feel, and show up—especially when things get messy.
You don’t need to have it all figured out.
But with small, consistent shifts, you can strengthen your presence in a way that feels real.
And that’s often what others respond to most.
Final Thought
You don’t need to become someone else to lead with presence. You just need to be more of yourself—anchored, intentional, and aware.
And if you’re navigating change or stepping into something bigger, presence can be the bridge between confidence and credibility.
✨ Coaching offers a space to explore what this looks like for you—personally and practically. You can book a complimentary discovery call.
🗯 Reflection Prompt:
"Which of the seven shifts speaks to you right now—and what’s one small step you can try this week?”
Want to Explore Further?
Here are two resources I often recommend:
📖 Sylvia Ann Hewlett – Executive Presence: The Missing Link Between Merit and Success A clear, research-based breakdown of the three pillars, with relatable case studies.
🎧 Hiba Al-Roumi – Talks and writings on embodied presence and leadership
A fresh, grounded perspective on how presence lives in the body—not just in our words or minds.