The Executive Presence Formula

⏳ Read Time: Less than 4 min.

Welcome back to The Winning Edge—your weekly edge in communication, leadership, and high-performance strategy.

Ever walked into a room and immediately knew who was in charge—before they even spoke?

That’s Executive Presence—the unspoken signal that says, “This person leads.” It’s not about power suits or being the loudest voice. It’s about calm confidence, clarity, and credibility you can feel from across the table (or Zoom screen).

This week, we’re unpacking how to develop presence that gets noticed, even in high-stakes situations. Because influence isn’t just what you say—it’s how you show up.
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This Week’s Insights

✅ The Executive Presence Formula – Gravitas, communication, and appearance
✅ Own the Room Without Over-Talking – Power in pausing and posture
✅ The 7-Second Rule – How fast people form impressions (and how to shape them)
✅ AI Tool of the Week – Get real-time feedback on how you sound to others
✅ Recommended Read – The go-to book on presence from Harvard faculty

THE MAIN EVENT
🎤 The Executive Presence Formula

The most influential leaders aren’t always the smartest in the room—but they’re often the most self-assured and composed.

Here’s the 3-part formula:

🔹 Gravitas (How you carry yourself):
Calm under pressure. Speaks with clarity. Listens fully.
Pro tip: Slow your speech just 10%—it signals control and confidence.

🔹 Communication (How you express ideas):
Clear, concise, and intentional. Avoid filler words.
Try this: Instead of saying, “I think maybe we should…” say, “My recommendation is…”

🔹 Appearance (How you visually show up):
Not about fashion—about alignment. Dress for the level you aspire to, not the one you're in.
Even virtually, posture and lighting matter more than you think.

QUICK HITTERS: Fast Wins for the Week

💡 Tip of the Week: Before a big meeting, take 30 seconds to align posture, breath, and tone. Presence is built before you say a word.

📊 Stat of the Week: 83% of executives say “executive presence” is a key factor in who gets promoted. (Source: Center for Talent Innovation)

🎭 Power Move: Speak 20% less in high-stakes meetings—but when you do speak, summarize, elevate, and point forward. That’s what leaders do.

📖 Recommended Read: “Presence” by Amy Cuddy – Backed by Harvard research, this book breaks down how to project confidence, even when you don’t feel it.

WEEKLY DEEP DIVE
How to Project Authority (Without Being Overbearing)

Let’s be real: You don’t need to be the loudest in the room to be the leader. You just need to own your space.

Here’s how high-impact professionals do it:

🔹 1. The Pause Principle
When you pause after making a point, it adds weight to your words. Silence isn’t awkward—it’s powerful. Let your ideas breathe.

🔹 2. The Eye Contact Anchor
Look at one person per thought—not a rapid scan across the room. This builds connection and trust without trying too hard.

🔹 3. The 7-Second Window
Studies show people form impressions within 7 seconds. Walk into every room—real or virtual—with intentional posture, presence, and energy.

💥 Try this: Before any high-stakes conversation, ask yourself:

Am I projecting calm?

Do I speak with clarity?

Is my body language aligned with my message?

When those answers are yes—you’re showing executive presence.

AI TIP OF THE WEEK

📌 Tool: Poised – Your AI Communication Coach

What it does:
✅ Provides real-time feedback on your tone, filler words, and confidence
✅ Tracks speaking pace, clarity, and eye contact (for video calls)
✅ Helps you fine-tune your executive presence over time

🔗 Try it at poised.com

🧠 Why it matters: Great leaders don’t guess how they come across—they train it. Poised gives you the data you need to show up at your best.

WINNING WITH AI: The Future of Sales Proposals and Presentations

AI isn’t just for tech geeks or big corporations—it’s transforming how we sell, present, and communicate. The best sales teams are already using AI to:

✅ Generate compelling, tailored proposals in minutes (not hours).
✅ Turn data into engaging, visual stories that capture attention.
✅ Automate tedious tasks so they can focus on closing deals instead.

This isn’t the future—it’s happening right now.

Get your copy of my ebook here!

ACTION STEPS & COMMUNITY QUESTION

In your next meeting or presentation, focus on slowing your speech and pausing after key points. Notice how others respond—and how you feel.

Then hit reply and tell me: What happened when you owned the moment?

P.S.
Next week, we’re diving into Networking & Relationships—how to build meaningful connections that open doors, deepen trust, and multiply your influence. Whether you hate “small talk” or thrive in big rooms, I’ve got strategies that work.

Keep building your edge—one conversation at a time.

YOUR OPINION MATTERS!

If you have more feedback or just want to get in touch, respond to this email, and we’ll get back to you!

Thanks for reading!

Until next week!

Mary Beth