Everyone can communicate, but not everyone can command presence.
This became one of my biggest realizations after I attended Executive Presence Session 1 with Michael Cannon on October 23, 2026. I expected a chance to sharpen my communication and presentation skills. Instead, I gained a deeper lesson on how we carry ourselves, influence others, and build credibility at work.
Before the session, I considered myself a confident communicator. I express my thoughts with ease, engage people comfortably, and deliver presentations without much worry. Naturally, I wondered what more I could learn.
The session challenged that assumption.
Key Takeaways
- Executive presence goes beyond communication. It shapes how others perceive your confidence, credibility, and judgment.
- Research by economist Sylvia Ann Hewlett ranks gravitas as the top pillar of executive presence, ahead of communication and appearance.
- People form first impressions in about a tenth of a second, so nonverbal cues matter.
- Quiet professionals often hold strong ideas. Executive presence helps those ideas land.
- Executive presence is a learnable skill for every role, not just for executives.
What Is Executive Presence?
Executive presence is the ability to project confidence, credibility, and composure in a way that makes people trust your judgment and want to follow your lead. It is for everyone, yet not everyone has it. Some people develop it through years of experience. Others build it on purpose. Either way, it is a skill, not a fixed personality trait, and anyone can cultivate it. Learning about it early in my career feels like a privilege.
Economist Sylvia Ann Hewlett, whose research has shaped how companies define the concept, breaks executive presence into three pillars: gravitas (how you act), communication (how you speak), and appearance (how you look). According to Forbes Australia, her findings show that gravitas accounts for 67 percent of executive presence, communication for 28 percent, and appearance for just 5 percent.
Expectations have also evolved. In “The New Rules of Executive Presence” for Harvard Business Review, Hewlett compares her 2012 and 2022 surveys. Today’s leaders earn more credit for listening to learn than for forceful speaking, and authenticity, which barely registered a decade ago, now ranks among the most valued traits.
Beyond Being Heard: Why Being Understood Matters
One of my most important takeaways is that communication goes beyond speaking confidently or articulating ideas.
It is one thing to communicate, another to be understood, and an entirely different level to be understood exactly as you intended.
Executive presence works through both verbal and nonverbal communication. Our posture, professional appearance, word choice, tone, and overall demeanor send messages before we say a single word.
Science supports this. Princeton psychologists Janine Willis and Alexander Todorov found that people judge a stranger’s traits, including trustworthiness and competence, after seeing a face for just one-tenth of a second. More viewing time did not change those judgments. It only made observers more confident in them (Princeton University; Association for Psychological Science). Todorov also noted that rational thought can still overcome snap judgments, and that is exactly where intentional presence comes in.
“The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.” — Peter F. Drucker, management consultant and author
In the corporate world, where perceptions shape opportunities, executive presence becomes more than a desirable quality. It becomes a professional advantage.
Great Ideas Deserve to Be Heard
One of the session’s most memorable activities asked each participant to pick a random object and talk about it for two minutes. We could share facts or create an entirely fictional story.
What fascinated me was how differently people approached the challenge. Some participants who first seemed quiet, reserved, or timid delivered surprisingly compelling talks. Their creativity, quick thinking, and storytelling skills stood out.
It reminded me how easily we underestimate people simply because they are not naturally outspoken. Research backs this up. Wharton professor Adam Grant points out that extraversion is the most consistent predictor of who becomes a leader. Yet his study with colleagues found that when employees took initiative, stores led by introverted managers earned higher profits, because those managers listened to and supported their teams’ ideas (Knowledge at Wharton).
More importantly, the exercise showed why executive presence matters. Having brilliant ideas is one thing. Communicating them with confidence and conviction is another.
Without the ability to make our thoughts heard, understood, and appreciated, even our most valuable insights risk going unnoticed.
Talent and intelligence deserve the chance to shine. Executive presence bridges the gap between having something valuable to contribute and making that contribution count.
Executive Presence Beyond Leadership Titles
Another realization is that executive presence does not belong only to executives, managers, or client-facing professionals. I work in Human Resources. I may not deal with external clients regularly, but I serve equally important stakeholders every day: our employees. Every interaction offers a chance to build trust and credibility. In HR, where conversations often call for sensitivity, professionalism, and sound judgment, how we communicate matters as much as what we communicate.
This reflects Hewlett’s research, which lists confidence, decisiveness, inclusiveness, respect for others, vision, and integrity as the core elements of gravitas (Forbes Australia). None of these requires a corner office. Developing executive presence helps me become someone employees can confidently approach, listen to, and trust. It also prepares me for future work with external stakeholders and greater responsibilities.
How to Start Building Your Executive Presence
Drawing from the session and the research above, these practices can help any professional begin:
- Mind your nonverbal cues. Stand tall, make eye contact, and keep your tone steady. People read these signals within moments.
- Listen to learn. Ask questions and reflect on what others say before you respond. Curiosity builds more credibility than force.
- Practice speaking on your feet. Short, unscripted exercises, like the two-minute object talk, sharpen quick thinking and composure.
- Lead with authenticity. Align your words, actions, and values so people know what to expect from you.
- Ask for feedback. A trusted colleague, mentor, or executive coach can show you how others perceive you and where to grow.
From Communicating Well to Making an Impact
Ultimately, this session reminded me that being a good communicator does not automatically mean having executive presence. Communication delivers the message. Executive presence gives that message weight, credibility, and influence.
I left the session recognizing that professional growth is not only about improving what we already do well. It is also about discovering dimensions of excellence we have yet to develop. Executive presence is not about holding an impressive title or being the loudest person in the room. It is about showing up with confidence, authenticity, and intention.
After all, the world cannot fully appreciate the value of our ideas if we cannot bring them to the table.
Frequently Asked Questions About Executive Presence
What are the three pillars of executive presence?
Sylvia Ann Hewlett’s research identifies gravitas, communication, and appearance. Gravitas, or how you act under pressure and in decision-making, carries the most weight.
Can executive presence be learned?
Yes. Executive presence is a set of behaviors, not an inborn trait. Training, coaching, practice, and honest feedback can strengthen it at any career stage.
Is executive presence only for executives?
No. Anyone who needs to earn trust, influence decisions, or share ideas benefits from it, whether in HR, sales, operations, or a frontline role.
How can organizations develop executive presence in their people?
Structured leadership programs, one-on-one executive coaching, and 360-degree assessments help employees see how others perceive them and build the right habits. The John Clements Leadership Institute offers all three.
Build Executive Presence Across Your Organization
Great ideas need leaders who can carry them forward. For more than a dozen years, the John Clements Leadership Institute (JCLI) has helped Asian leaders, from new managers to the C-suite, strengthen the skills that set them apart. Its custom leadership programs, executive coaching, and 360-degree assessments turn potential into presence.
Ready to develop leaders who command the room? Explore JCLI’s leadership programs or reach out to our team today.
