You might already be a high performer, but telltale signs can reveal if presence is limiting you. Self-reflect on these cues:
Voicing Hesitation: You often use filler words, apologies or qualifiers (“um,” “maybe,” “sorry”) during presentations, which can unintentionally weaken your authority.
Mismatch in Message & Body Language: Your stance or gestures don’t match your intent. (For example, slouching while making a strong point can send mixed signals.)
Uneven Adaptation: You struggle to adjust your approach for different audiences or cultures, causing confusion or disengagement among listeners.
Pressure Panic: In critical moments, you feel anxious or lose your composure, which others pick up on instead of hearing confidence.
Lack of Take-Charge Moments: You notice colleagues with similar expertise seem to get noticed more — they command meetings or make decisive calls, while you feel overlooked.
Feedback Stalls: Your boss or mentor hints that you need to “step up your presence” or that you seem less confident than you could be.
If any of these sound familiar, it’s a clear sign that developing your executive presence could remove obstacles from your advancement. After all, hard work alone isn’t enough — how you influence others and project confidence often makes the difference between staying stuck or getting promoted