5 Ways Women Leaders Can Build Executive Presence

What Is Executive Presence?

Executive presence is often described as the "X factor" that sets leaders apart, but this makes it sound like a rare, innate and indefinable trait. In reality, it’s a skillset that you can learn, practice and refine.

At its core, executive presence comes down to five key areas:

1. How you communicate: speaking clearly and confidently, in a way that makes people listen.
2. How you carry yourself: using body language, eye contact and presence to command attention.
3. How you handle pressure: staying cool, calm and collected, even in high-pressure moments.
4. How visible you are: ensuring that your contributions are seen, heard and recognized.
5. How you connect with others: building relationships that strengthen your influence.

For women, building executive presence comes with added challenges. Leadership has long been seen as a masculine trait, so qualities like assertiveness and directness are more readily accepted in men.

But women can and do benefit from developing executive presence. A widely cited study found that it accounts for 26 percent of what it takes to get promoted to leadership positions. [1]

5 Top Tips for Building Executive presence

1. How You Communicate

Women’s voices are spoken over more often – 39 percent of women say they’re frequently interrupted, compared to 20 percent of men. [2]

• Reclaim the space. If you’re interrupted, calmly say, “I’d like to finish my point.”
• Use “bookending.” Start with, “Here’s my perspective,” and end with, “I’d love to hear your thoughts” to keep control of the conversation.
• Own your expertise. Avoid phrases that dilute your impact, such as, “I think,” or “I just wanted to add.”

2. How You Carry Yourself

Body language and presence matter, but women often walk a tightrope between being “too soft” or “too intimidating.” The key is to own your space without overcompensating.

• Strong stance, steady voice. Plant your feet, sit or stand tall, and use measured gestures to signal authority without aggression.
• Pause for impact. Don’t rush to fill silence. Pauses project confidence.
• Hold eye contact. Maintain your gaze when you’re making your point.

3. How You Handle Pressure

Executive presence isn’t about hiding your emotions. It’s about being in control of how you express them.

• Pause before reacting. Saying, “Let me think on that” can buy you time.
• Lower, not louder. A steady, deeper voice carries more authority than raising your pitch.
• Center your focus. In high-pressure moments, shift your attention away from how you sound, look or are being perceived. Focus outward on the problem you’re solving, people you’re supporting, and the impact you want to have.

4. How Visible You Are

Many women fear that self-promotion will be seen negatively, but it’s a key part of executive presence. [3] Done right, it elevates you and your team.

• Take the credit. If someone repeats your idea, say, “Thanks for building on the point I made earlier.”​
• Raise your hand. Strategically volunteer for high-profile projects. Don’t wait to be invited.
• Find sponsors. A mentor gives advice; a sponsor advocates for you in rooms you’re not in.​

5. How You Connect With Others

Effective networking is about building trust with the right people.

• Be clear about the “ask.” People generally want to help, but they need to know how. Be specific about what you need: a connection? Advice on a specific challenge?
• Strengthen your power network. Build relationships across levels, not just your peers.
• Give before you get. Champion a colleague and they’re more likely to do the same for you.