What is “executive presence” (and is it coachable?)

Aug 7, 2025

You know what it is… at least intuitively. You might not be able to define it.

But you’ve definitely seen it. 

One manager gets a tough question they don’t know the answer to and weren’t preparing for, and they stumble, they dance around their words, they stutter around it. They don’t have “it”.

Another manager takes a long breath. Breaks eye contact for just a second to think, and then returns. They provide an answer with a detailed breakdown of the challenges, as if they had a mental ChatGPT to consult. Or maybe they give the brave, rarely-seen and often-judged-as-a-weakness response: “I don’t know.”

Either way, you recognize it immediately. That “executive presence”.

So what is executive presence?

At its core, executive presence is the ability to inspire confidence, trust, and respect from others. It’s not a single skill. It’s a blend of behaviors and inner qualities that shape how someone shows up—especially when it matters.

You might assume it’s something people are just born with. But research shows that it isn’t. Executive presence is a set of observable behaviors and inner mindsets that can be taught, practiced, and improved over time.

It includes things like:

  • Calm under pressure

  • Clear and concise communication

  • Strong body language

  • The ability to listen attentively

  • Being grounded in your own values

  • Reading the room, and responding thoughtfully

What makes it “executive” is that these traits show up not just in casual conversations, but during high-stakes moments: board meetings, product crises, employee escalations, investor calls. These are the moments that shape careers and reputations. Executive presence is the ability to show up fully, with clarity and composure, when the pressure is on.

What does it look like in practice?

You’ve probably seen someone undermine their presence without even realizing it:

  • They say: “I’m not sure if this makes sense…”

  • They ramble without getting to the point.

  • They avoid eye contact.

  • They fidget while presenting.

None of these behaviors are catastrophic. But over time, they erode credibility. The good news is they’re also fixable.

Simple changes, like dropping apologetic language, tightening up your messages, or holding eye contact, can immediately shift how others perceive you. These small adjustments have a high return on investment because they signal confidence, clarity, and attention. And they’re fully coachable.

Fast, high-ROI fixes you can make this week

These are small changes that change how people read you right away:

  1. Drop apology preambles. Cut “I might be wrong but…” and start with your point. This removes a built-in confidence discount.

  2. Stop rambling. Lead with the answer, then give two supporting facts. If more is needed, they’ll ask.

  3. Fix nonverbals. Sit up, face the room (or camera), steady your gaze, and keep hands still. Presence reads before words land.

So yes. It’s coachable.

Executive presence isn’t something you either have or don’t. It’s something you build.

Leaders develop it by:

  • Asking for feedback from peers and mentors

  • Practicing presentations or tough conversations

  • Reframing their internal narratives (e.g., imposter syndrome)

  • Getting coaching on body language and voice

  • Getting used to discomfort, like silence or pushback

There’s no single script. It depends on your strengths, role, and context. But the underlying principle is consistent: presence is a learnable skill.

Coaching helps accelerate it

Working with a coach can help you surface habits you don’t even realize are hurting your presence. For example:

  • A CFO learned to speak with more vocal authority and began gaining support for financial decisions.

  • A marketing VP who struggled to lead client calls learned to project confidence and ended up closing more deals.

  • A COO practiced being more decisive and saw improvements in team delivery.

In each case, coaching targeted a specific behavioral gap (whether it was unclear messaging, low confidence, or weak non-verbal cues) and helped that leader make tangible progress. The result wasn’t just improved perception; it was improved business outcomes.

Final thought

Executive presence isn’t about having a perfect answer. It’s about how you show up when the answer isn’t obvious. That’s why it’s so powerful. And also, why it’s so learnable.

You don’t need to fake confidence. You need to build it from the inside out, and practice the behaviors that show it on the outside. Coaching can help you do both.

We’ve built out an AI coaching assistant that we think does a really good job as a coach. Give us a try, and let us know what you think.