Week 4: How to Develop Magnetic Executive Presence

 

Welcome to week 4 of the 5-week VP-Ready challenge. Week 1:Insights to craft your VP roadmap Week 2: Mastering the Art of Self-Promotion without the cringe Week 3: Building strategic visibility Today, we’re diving into one of the most important, yet often misunderstood, aspects of leadership: Executive Presence—the skill that separates good managers from great executives.   I've been promoted 10 times in 15 years, and I can say the most critical skill I needed to become a VP  was not what I thought it would be.   Your results matter, of course. But this is what few people realize: executive leaders aren’t just evaluated on what they do—they’re evaluated on how they do it.   And that right there is what executive presence is all about.   The good news? Executive presence is a skill, and it’s completely learnable.    I see too many leaders mistakenly believe executive presence requires being:   The loudest voice in the room An extroverted, larger-than-life personality Aloof or unapproachable like some tech visionary   And as a result they think: “I don’t have what it takes”.   Let me clear this up: real executive presence is authentic.   It doesn’t mean changing who you are—it means building on your strengths in a way that inspires trust and confidence. Whether you’re naturally soft-spoken or more direct, you can develop executive presence.   In fact, the best leaders aren’t trying to be Steve Jobs—they’re authentic, grounded, and approachable while commanding respect and authority.

Here’s the framework I teach my clients to build authentic executive presence:   1. Understand How You’re Perceived Perception is reality in the corporate world. How do others see you?   Do they view you as calm and decisive—or reactive and uncertain? Are you seen as a strategic partner—or as someone who just “gets things done”?   Ask for feedback from trusted colleagues or mentors to identify gaps. Your goal is to align your actions, communication, and leadership style with how you want to be perceived.   2. Develop Garvitas Gravitas isn’t about arrogance—it’s about self-assurance.   You don’t need to pretend to know everything, you need to own your position and be decisive.    Speak clearly and decisively, even when you’re unsure. Avoid hedging language like “I think” or “maybe.” Make choices, don’t just share “laundry list” options   Gravitas doesn’t mean being perfect; it means being sure of what you bring to the table and showing others you belong there.   3. Speak Their Language As you move higher up in the organization, you’ll find that executives have a different way of communicating. Understanding how to speak their language is crucial.    Focus on high-level outcomes, not just processes. They want to know what you’re doing, why it matters, and what the impact will be—not a step-by-step explanation of how you’re doing it.    Learn to speak in terms of results, ROI, and strategy.

Action Steps 1. Evaluate your executive presence. On a scale of: Red (Low) , Yellow (Needs work), Green (This is my superpower), where do you stand in these areas:   You have a strong executive presence You're confident in high-stakes situations You're able to communicate concisely and persuasively You're able to think strategically and get buy-in from stakeholders   2. What is one change you can apply this week to start building your executive presence?