“You need more executive presence.” Okay… how?

“Work on your executive presence” might be the most frustrating feedback you can get at work.

It sounds important.

It sounds like advice.

But no one tells you what it actually means.

The Situation

My manager keeps telling me I need to work on my executive presence. When I ask what that means, she says things like ‘own the room’ or ‘be more confident.’ I have no idea what I’m actually doing wrong or what to change. Any ideas on where to start?

My Take

Good news: executive presence is not a personality trait. It is a set of specific skills and behaviors.

Which means you can improve this easily if you start with these three areas:

1️⃣ Communication

• Do you lead with the point or build up to it?

• Do you speak in headlines or long explanations?

• Do you sound certain or tentative?

Most executive presence problems are actually communication problems.

Two frameworks that will level-up your communication:

What → So What → Now What

Great for status updates and quick callouts in business reviews.

POV → Reason → Example → Point

Use this when answering questions in meetings. First, answer the question! Then explain your rationale or context.

If people understand you quickly, you look more senior. Period.

2️⃣ Ownership & Credibility

• Do you flag risks early or go quiet until something breaks?

• Do you bring problems with recommendations?

• Do you follow through without reminders?

• Do you admit when you don’t know, then commit to finding out?

Ownership builds trust (even when it’s admitting you will be late or don’t know the answer). Trust builds credibility. Credibility is a huge piece of presence.

3️⃣ Behavior in ALL Interactions

Don’t just think about the big meetings; how are you showing up in small moments?

• Do you say “hi” in the hallway?

• Do you make small talk before meetings?

• Do you have clear agendas in your meeting invites?

• Do you give ad hoc updates or share wins in meetings?

We often forget these micro-moments, but they matter too, and they are fully controllable.

Executive presence is not some elusive quality.

It’s a set of behaviors you can change starting tomorrow.