You’ve worked hard and achieved a lot — but if you’re not moving to the next leadership level, your executive presence might be the missing piece. Presence is easy to spot when it’s lacking, but hard to build without deeper reflection. It’s not about quick fixes — it’s about understanding your beliefs, habits, and how you show up.
Here are five signs that your presence might be getting in the way:
1. Hesitant Voice
You use filler words or apologies (“maybe,” “sorry,” “I think”), which can make you sound unsure, even when you’re not.
2. Mixed Signals
Your body language doesn’t match your message — like saying something confidently while slouching or avoiding eye contact.
3. One-Style Communication
You find it hard to adapt your tone or approach for different people or settings, which can cause disconnect.
4. Under Pressure
You lose calm or clarity in high-stakes situations, and others notice the stress more than your ideas.
5. Missed Visibility
Peers get noticed or trusted faster, even with similar skills — they speak up and take charge, while you hold back.
If these feel familiar, it may be time to work on your executive presence — not by changing who you are, but by becoming more aware of how you show up. Leadership isn’t just about what you know. It’s also about the impact you make.