Do You Have Executive Presence?

In the professional world, there are some people who simply stand out from the crowd.


Those who can effortlessly command a room and engage other people. Those whose confidence and charisma projects the air of a natural leader . What do these people have that others don’t? Executive presence.

Executive presence is what makes others perceive you as being a professional leader. This quality has gotten increasing attention. In a recent survey , executive presence was ranked number two on the list of top 20 leadership traits that make a difference. In a separate survey , 268 senior executives said that executive presence counts for 26% of what it takes to get promoted.

So what exactly is executive presence and how do you develop it? According to Business Insider, the 7 traits of executive presence are:

  • Composure
  • Connection
  • Charisma
  • Confidence
  • Credibility
  • Clarity
  • Conciseness
  • One thing that many of these traits have in common is they are rooted in communication. Improving your verbal and non-verbal professional communication skills allows you to project composure and confidence and connect with others. Honing your speaking skills allows you to communicate in a clear, concise manner. If you’re unable to communicate with clarity, confidence, and professionalism, your skills and knowledge may be overlooked simply because you don’t seem like leadership material. Improve your communication skills, and executive presence will follow.

    Related: The Key to Taking Your Skills to the Next Level