The Silent Skill That Makes People Take You Seriously

⏳ Read Time: Less than 4 min.

I’m super excited to welcome you back to The Winning Edge—your weekly edge in mastering communication, leadership, and performance. My goal? Help you show up sharper, speak with more influence, and lead with purpose.

Ever walked into a room and instantly noticed who’s in charge—before anyone says a word? That’s not charisma. It’s not confidence. It’s something deeper and more strategic: Executive Presence.

This week, I’m breaking down what it really is, how to build it fast, and a few techniques that’ll instantly change the way others perceive your leadership.
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This Week’s Insights

✅ The Silent Skill That Makes People Take You Seriously – Executive presence decoded
✅ Quick Win: The 3-second tweak that adds instant authority to your voice ✅ The "Top Floor" Effect – Why where you look while speaking changes everything
✅ AI Tool of the Week – Real-time feedback on your presence during virtual calls
✅ Deep Dive: Gravitas, Credibility, and Command – How to build them daily

THE MAIN EVENT
🎤 The Silent Skill That Makes People Take You Seriously

You’ve got the ideas. You’ve done the prep. But here’s the twist: people judge you before you open your mouth. In fact, within 7 seconds, they’ve already decided if you’re credible, competent, and worth listening to.

That’s Executive Presence. And no, it’s not about being the loudest or most extroverted. It’s about showing up with the kind of energy that says: “I’ve got this.”

🧠 Here’s What It Comes Down To:

1. Gravitas – How seriously people take you.

2. Communication – How clearly and confidently you deliver a message.

3. Appearance – Not just what you wear, but how you carry yourself.

🔑 Try This Today:

• Speak 10% slower than usual.

• Replace filler words (“uh,” “like”) with purposeful pauses.

• Make strong eye contact (bonus: look at the “top third” of someone's face—eyebrows and above—it boosts perceived confidence).

💬 Executive presence is the bridge between competence and credibility. You already have the skills. Let’s make sure the world knows it.

QUICK HITTERS: Fast Wins for the Week

💡 Tip of the Week: When presenting, stand or sit one inch taller. That tiny shift signals confidence and leadership to your audience—even over Zoom.

📊 Stat of the Week: According to a Forbes study, 76% of executives say that executive presence is a major factor in promotion decisions.

🎭 Power Move: Start key meetings with a single, bold sentence: “Here’s what I want to share today.” It frames you as decisive and clear-headed.

📖 Recommended Read: "Executive Presence" by Sylvia Ann Hewlett – A deep dive into the traits that define top-level leaders.

WEEKLY DEEP DIVE
Executive Presence: How to Show Up with Command

Most people think executive presence is just “looking the part.” But if you’ve ever seen someone in an expensive suit lose a room in 10 seconds, you know better.

Executive Presence isn’t about status—it’s about signal.

It’s the subtle, consistent cues you send that make others feel, “This person is capable. I trust them. I want to follow them.”

So how do you actually build that? Let’s break it down.

⚡ The 3 C’s of Executive Presence

1️⃣ Calm – Unshakeable composure Great leaders don’t react emotionally—they respond intentionally. When pressure rises, they slow down, not speed up.
Try This: In your next high-stakes moment, silently count to 2 before responding. That micro-pause radiates control—and it’s contagious.

2️⃣ Clear – Confident communication People with executive presence don’t ramble. They land their message quickly, cleanly, and confidently.
Try This: Open with your point. Don’t build up to it—start with it. Ex: “Here’s the decision I recommend, and why.”

3️⃣ Commanding – Quiet authority This doesn’t mean being forceful. It means being assertive—owning your message and space without overpowering others.
Try This: During conversations, hold steady eye contact when you speak. Let others interrupt silence, not you.

🎯 The "Elevator Framework" for Instant Presence

If you only remember one thing from this section, let it be this:

👉 Presence is not performance—it’s positioning.

Think of it like being in an elevator:
Ground Floor: You seem unsure. People doubt your leadership.
Top Floor: You speak with clarity, carry yourself with confidence, and command attention.

How do you ride that elevator to the top?

🔹 Posture: Shoulders back, chin neutral, feet grounded. Whether standing or seated, imagine being gently pulled upward.
🔹 Tone: Slightly lower your vocal tone and reduce speed by 10%. Deep tones and slower pace equal confidence.
🔹 Pacing: Strategic pauses add gravity to your words. Silence is a power move.

AI TIP OF THE WEEK

📌 Tool: Poised – Your real-time AI speech coach for Zoom, Teams, and Meet.

It gives you private, real-time feedback on your filler words, tone, pace, and even facial expressions—helping you refine your executive presence with data. Think of it as a personal coach sitting quietly in the corner of every virtual room.

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

Here’s your challenge:
Before your next meeting or conversation, try a “Power Pause” right before speaking. Take a breath, then lead with a confident first sentence.

👉 What happened? Did people respond differently? Hit reply and tell me what changed!

P.S.
Next week’s edition is all about Networking and Relationships—but not in the cringey, overused way. I’m sharing a fresh approach that turns every interaction into an opportunity to build authentic connection and influence. Trust me—you’ll want this one..

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