Executive Presence Development

PRESENCE PHILOSOPHY

Executive Presence Fundamentals

EXECUTIVE PRESENCE PHILOSOPHY

WHY EXECUTIVE PRESENCE MATTERS:
☐ Inspires confidence in your leadership
☐ Creates followership
☐ Influences outcomes
☐ Represents the company
☐ Models behavior for others
☐ Opens doors and opportunities

PRESENCE PRINCIPLES:

1. AUTHENTICITY IS FOUNDATIONAL
   ☐ Be yourself, not a persona
   ☐ Your style, elevated
   ☐ Genuine > polished
   ☐ Comfort in your own skin

2. PREPARATION ENABLES PRESENCE
   ☐ Confidence comes from readiness
   ☐ Know your material
   ☐ Anticipate the room
   ☐ Reduce unknowns

3. OTHERS' EXPERIENCE MATTERS
   ☐ How do they feel around you?
   ☐ Do they feel heard?
   ☐ Are they inspired?
   ☐ Presence is relational

4. IT'S A SKILL, NOT A TRAIT
   ☐ Can be developed
   ☐ Practice makes progress
   ☐ Feedback accelerates growth
   ☐ Never fully "done"

PRESENCE MYTHS:
☐ "You have it or you don't"
☐ "It's about being extroverted"
☐ "It's about being perfect"
☐ "It's about being loud"
☐ "It can't be learned"

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PRESENCE DEVELOPMENT

Comprehensive Executive Presence Assessment

EXECUTIVE PRESENCE COMPONENTS

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GRAVITAS (Weight/Credibility)
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DEFINITION: The quality that makes people
stop, listen, and believe you.

COMPONENTS:

Confidence:
☐ Speaks with conviction
☐ Comfortable with uncertainty
☐ Owns decisions and outcomes
☐ Doesn't seek constant validation
Self-rating: ___/10

Composure:
☐ Calm under pressure
☐ Steady in crisis
☐ Manages emotions effectively
☐ Doesn't get rattled
Self-rating: ___/10

Authenticity:
☐ Genuine and real
☐ Consistent across contexts
☐ Admits mistakes
☐ Shows appropriate vulnerability
Self-rating: ___/10

Vision/Conviction:
☐ Clear point of view
☐ Articulates the future
☐ Inspires with purpose
☐ Stands firm on principles
Self-rating: ___/10

Decisiveness:
☐ Makes decisions
☐ Comfortable with imperfection
☐ Moves forward
☐ Takes responsibility
Self-rating: ___/10

GRAVITAS TOTAL: ___/50

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COMMUNICATION (How You Connect)
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DEFINITION: The ability to convey ideas
clearly and connect with others.

COMPONENTS:

Clarity:
☐ Concise and direct
☐ Simple language
☐ Well-organized thoughts
☐ Easy to follow
Self-rating: ___/10

Storytelling:
☐ Uses narrative effectively
☐ Makes points memorable
☐ Creates emotional connection
☐ Illustrates with examples
Self-rating: ___/10

Listening:
☐ Fully present when listening
☐ Asks great questions
☐ Builds on others' ideas
☐ Makes others feel heard
Self-rating: ___/10

Adaptability:
☐ Adjusts to audience
☐ Reads the room
☐ Shifts style as needed
☐ Appropriate formality level
Self-rating: ___/10

Persuasion:
☐ Influences effectively
☐ Addresses objections
☐ Builds buy-in
☐ Closes effectively
Self-rating: ___/10

COMMUNICATION TOTAL: ___/50

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APPEARANCE (Physical Presence)
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DEFINITION: How you physically show up
and the energy you bring.

COMPONENTS:

Body Language:
☐ Open and confident posture
☐ Appropriate eye contact
☐ Purposeful movement
☐ Takes up appropriate space
Self-rating: ___/10

Energy:
☐ Appropriate enthusiasm
☐ Engaged and present
☐ Sustainable energy
☐ Brings positive atmosphere
Self-rating: ___/10

Professional Image:
☐ Appropriate attire
☐ Polished appearance
☐ Context-appropriate
☐ Attention to detail
Self-rating: ___/10

Preparation:
☐ Visibly ready
☐ Knows the material
☐ Anticipates questions
☐ Has done the work
Self-rating: ___/10

Presence/Aura:
☐ Commands attention
☐ Fills the room
☐ Memorable impression
☐ Radiates leadership
Self-rating: ___/10

APPEARANCE TOTAL: ___/50

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OVERALL ASSESSMENT
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| Component | Score | Strength? | Priority? |
|-----------|-------|-----------|-----------|
| Gravitas | /50 | ☐ | ☐ |
| Communication | /50 | ☐ | ☐ |
| Appearance | /50 | ☐ | ☐ |
| TOTAL | /150 | | |

Score interpretation:
130+: Strong presence
100-130: Good presence with areas to develop
70-100: Developing presence
<70: Significant development opportunity

Development Focus Areas

EXECUTIVE PRESENCE DEVELOPMENT PLAN

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DEVELOPMENT PRIORITY SELECTION
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Based on assessment, top development areas:

PRIORITY 1: _______________
Current score: ___/10
Target score: ___/10
Why important: _______________
Development approach: _______________

PRIORITY 2: _______________
Current score: ___/10
Target score: ___/10
Why important: _______________
Development approach: _______________

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DEVELOPMENT BY COMPONENT
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GRAVITAS DEVELOPMENT:

Building Confidence:
☐ Know your domain deeply
☐ Prepare thoroughly
☐ Start with small wins
☐ Reflect on past successes
☐ Affirmations before big moments

Building Composure:
☐ Practice breathing techniques
☐ Develop pre-meeting rituals
☐ Rehearse difficult scenarios
☐ Build physical fitness
☐ Get enough sleep

Building Authenticity:
☐ Reflect on values regularly
☐ Share appropriate personal stories
☐ Admit what you don't know
☐ Be consistent across contexts
☐ Seek feedback on perception

Building Conviction:
☐ Clarify your vision
☐ Articulate your "why"
☐ Practice conviction statements
☐ Stand firm respectfully
☐ Accept disagreement gracefully

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COMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENT:

Building Clarity:
☐ Structure: Point → Support → Point
☐ Eliminate filler words
☐ Pause for emphasis
☐ Summarize key takeaways
☐ Ask "Was that clear?"

Building Storytelling:
☐ Collect personal stories
☐ Study great storytellers
☐ Use the STAR format
☐ Practice with trusted others
☐ Record and review

Building Listening:
☐ Practice full attention
☐ Summarize what you heard
☐ Ask follow-up questions
☐ Resist the urge to solve immediately
☐ Create silence for others

Building Adaptability:
☐ Research your audience
☐ Notice reactions and adjust
☐ Have multiple versions of key messages
☐ Practice different styles
☐ Seek feedback on connection

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APPEARANCE DEVELOPMENT:

Building Body Language:
☐ Practice power poses
☐ Record yourself presenting
☐ Work with a coach
☐ Be mindful of habits
☐ Practice eye contact

Building Energy:
☐ Manage physical health
☐ Pre-meeting energy routines
☐ Match energy to context
☐ Build sustainable practices
☐ Know your energy patterns

Building Professional Image:
☐ Define your style
☐ Invest in quality basics
☐ Attention to grooming
☐ Context-appropriate choices
☐ Consistent standards

Practice Techniques

EXECUTIVE PRESENCE PRACTICE

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DAILY PRACTICES
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MORNING:
☐ Power pose (2 minutes)
☐ Intention setting for presence
☐ Review key messages for the day
☐ Centering breath

BEFORE KEY MOMENTS:
☐ Physical warmup
☐ Review preparation
☐ Visualization of success
☐ Centering breath
☐ Positive self-talk

DURING:
☐ Slow down
☐ Make eye contact
☐ Pause intentionally
☐ Listen actively
☐ Be fully present

END OF DAY:
☐ Reflect on presence moments
☐ What worked?
☐ What would you do differently?
☐ Celebrate wins

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REGULAR PRACTICES
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WEEKLY:
☐ Review a recording of yourself
☐ Practice key messages
☐ Seek feedback from trusted source
☐ Read/watch inspiring leaders

MONTHLY:
☐ Presence assessment check-in
☐ Executive coaching session
☐ Stretch opportunity (speaking, etc.)
☐ Development plan review

QUARTERLY:
☐ Full presence reassessment
☐ Feedback gathering
☐ Development plan update
☐ Celebrate progress

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SPECIFIC PRACTICE SCENARIOS
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BOARD PRESENTATION:
☐ Know the material cold
☐ Anticipate every question
☐ Practice with tough questioner
☐ Arrive early, center yourself
☐ Own the room

ALL-HANDS MEETING:
☐ Stories ready
☐ Energy appropriate
☐ Make it conversational
☐ Connect with individuals
☐ Strong close

1:1 WITH EXEC:
☐ Full attention
☐ Listen first
☐ Be direct and clear
☐ Support without solving
☐ Follow up

MEDIA/EXTERNAL:
☐ Key messages memorized
☐ Bridging phrases ready
☐ Practice on video
☐ Anticipate tough questions
☐ Stay calm

Executive Presence Development Tracker

Skill	Baseline	Current	Target	Method
Confidence	/10	/10	/10
Composure	/10	/10	/10
Clarity	/10	/10	/10
Storytelling	/10	/10	/10
Body language	/10	/10	/10

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