19/05/2026
A lot of people think executive presence means confidence, charisma or polish.
Sometimes it does show up that way.
But in my work with senior leaders, executive presence is usually tested in harder moments:
When the room is tense.
When the politics are unclear.
When stakeholders are sceptical.
When you need to speak with authority without becoming defensive.
When you need to stay clear under pressure.
That is why I see executive presence less as performance, and more as the ability to think, speak and lead with credibility when the stakes are high.
I have written a practical article on developing executive presence for leaders working in complex organisations.
If this is relevant to you, or to someone you know, you can read it here:
https://www.evecoachingconsulting.com/insights/developing-executive-presence
