Peak Performers by Tiffany Uman

3 ways to build more executive presence

July 7, 2025

Thank you for joining my Peak Performers newsletter! Every Monday, we share practical tips and scripts to help you land the roles you want, thrive with confidence at work and grow faster.

Most people misunderstand what executive presence really is.​
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They think it’s about being polished, speaking confidently, having the right title, or always knowing the answer. Those things alone won’t help you gain influence, earn trust, or get promoted faster.

According to a recent Gartner study, 89% of HR leaders say executive presence is a key factor in determining leadership potential, yet less than 1/3 of employees demonstrate it consistently. Why?

Real executive presence isn’t just about performance. It’s about perception.

It’s how people experience your leadership, especially when stakes are high.

If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting feeling unheard or overlooked, even though your ideas were solid…
The problem likely isn’t your ideas. It’s how you’re delivering them.

So let’s fix that! Here's what it really takes to build true executive presence and become someone others want to follow, promote, and listen to.

3 ways to strengthen your executive presence

1. Communicate with clarity and precision

Strong communicators don’t say more. They say what matters clearly, calmly, and with conviction.
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When speaking with senior leaders, there’s no room for filler, rambling, or uncertainty. The goal is to make it impossible to misinterpret your message. Here's how.

→ Lead with the “so what”: In other words, why should this matter to them?

→ Use a confident tone: End your sentences on a downward note to convey authority. If your voice rises at the end (like a question), it signals hesitation.

Also, use intentional pauses to create emphasis, especially before or after key points. Pauses give your audience time to process and signal that you’re comfortable holding the room.

→ Trim the fat: Avoid long preambles or unnecessary details that dilute your message.

→ Don't overshare: Less is more. Volunteer additional information only if needed.

→ Close with clarity: Never leave a room wondering what your point was.

Pro tip: Practice putting together executive summaries before key meetings. Ask yourself, if you only 60 seconds, what's the #1 outcome you need to achieve and which 3 messages would you share to get there?

This was a key area we supported one of our clients on which improved her executive presence, and led her to secure a major PR feature of her work that was chosen as the cover story, a first for her company!

2. Persuade through storytelling

Data earns attention, but storytelling captures hearts and earns buy-in.

Executives don’t just want numbers. They want context, relevance, and meaning. They want to know why it matters, what problem it solves, and how it supports the bigger picture.

→ Start with the business outcome, not the full backstory: Share the headlines and build from there.

→ Anchor your story in business priorities: Make it easy for your audience to connect the dots between your work and their goals.

→ Position your audience as the decision-maker: Show that you value their leadership and trust their judgment. It makes them more engaged and invested in what you share.

→ Highlight moments of resilience or adaptability: Great stories include tension and resolution. They also show how you can lead through challenges.

[Check out my LinkedIn Learning course on Storytelling to Influence Leadership and Decision-Makers]

3. Build strategic relationships with intention

Executive presence isn’t built in presentations and meetings alone. It’s established in the quiet moments like side conversations, cross-functional efforts, and how others describe you when you’re not in the room.

Leaders who influence at the highest levels are backed by trusted relationships across the business. Here's how you can build these relationships in the right way.

→ Pre-vet your ideas: Before presenting a big idea or recommendation, get early input from key stakeholders who will influence the decision-making.

This does 3 things at once:
(1) It strengthens your idea as you're gaining complimentary insight and feedback.
(2) It earns early buy-in from those influencing the decision as well.
(3) It shows you’re inclusive and proactively doing your due diligence.

→ Be seen as a trusted advisor: Move away from being a doer and position yourself as someone who helps others succeed.

→ Expand your visibility across teams: If only your direct manager knows your value, you’re capped. Seek cross-functional projects or offer to contribute outside your immediate team.

→ Be known for lifting others up: Mentoring others and supporting peers creates a halo effect that reflects positively on you as a leader.

Pro tip: At least once a quarter, audit your internal network to see where you want to close any gaps:

• Who knows your work and impact?
• Who advocates for you when you’re not around?
• Where do you need stronger visibility?

Leveraging this approach helped our client secure a major speaking engagement in her field.

This week’s mission: Use these 3 strategies to build a stronger executive presence.

• Speak with clarity. In your next meeting, trim the fat. Choose 1 idea you need to communicate and inspire from today's examples to remove filler words that distract from your key outcome.
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• Tell the story, not just the steps. Think of 1 update you’re sharing this week (in a meeting, email, or Slack). Frame it as a quick story starting with situation, action and result. For example, "Client engagement was down...we tested new messaging...engagement rose by 28% in 2 weeks."
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• Reinforce 1 strategic connection. Reach out to a stakeholder or peer outside your immediate team and offer value like sharing an insight, asking for input, or offering help.

You've got this!

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