Executive Presence -The Meeting Struggle No One Talks About

How to Be Seen and Heard in Meetings

(Without Trying Too Hard)

You’re in a meeting, sitting there, thinking, waiting. You’ve got a solid point—maybe even the best point in the room. But instead of saying it, you hesitate. “Is this the right moment? Should I phrase it differently? What if it doesn’t land?”

Meanwhile, someone else—probably less thoughtful, definitely less hesitant—says the exact thing you were about to say. And now? Everyone is nodding like they just discovered fire. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. One of the biggest barriers to career success isn’t just a lack of confidence—it’s a lack of executive presence. And if you’re not developing it, you’re getting left behind.

Why Executive Presence Determines Who Gets Heard in Meetings

You probably assume you’re not being heard because you need to be more “assertive.” Or more “confident.” Or “speak with authority.”

No.

The real reason? Your presence (or lack of it) speaks before you do.

You mentally rank people in the room. “They’re more experienced. They speak better. They’ll judge me.” Boom—your voice shrinks before it even makes it out.
You’re overthinking your words instead of your impact. People don’t care about how perfectly you phrase something—they care about whether it’s useful.
You’re waiting to ‘earn’ the right to speak. Newsflash: You’re already in the room. You’ve already earned it.

Executive presence is less about performance and more about how you hold space.

How to Build Your Executive Presence and Own the Room

1. Delete the Hierarchy in Your Mind

Nobody in the room is better than you. Nobody in the room is worse than you. Meetings aren’t a stage for performance—they’re thinking spaces. The second you stop trying to ‘earn’ your place and just start participating, you naturally build executive presence.

2. Drop the Need to Be Right

If you’re waiting until you have the perfect thought before speaking, you’ll be waiting forever.

🚀 New frame: Instead of “I need to get this right,” try “I’m throwing this in to shape the conversation.”

Bonus tip: If you’re unsure, say “One way to look at this is…” or “Something I’ve noticed is…”. This makes it easier to contribute without pressure to sound like an expert.

3. Own Your Space (Literally, Physically, Visibly)

Before you even speak, people register whether you’re confident.

Sit like you belong. Don’t shrink into your chair like you’re hoping to disappear.
Breathe deeper. When you’re nervous, you breathe shallowly. Big breaths = more control.
Pause before speaking. It signals executive presence (and makes people actually listen).

Your Move: How to Build Executive Presence in Your Next Meeting

Before You Walk In:

Decide you’re going to say something. (Even just a question.)
Remind yourself: Nobody cares about your delivery as much as you do.

When You Speak:

Start with presence. (Pause. Own the silence before you talk.)
Speak slower than you think you need to. (Fast talk = nervous energy.)
Finish your thought even if someone tries to cut in. (“I’d like to complete that point before we move on.”)

Final Thought: You’re Already Enough. Start Acting Like It.

Here’s the truth: You don’t need to “fix” anything. You don’t need a new personality.

You just need to stop waiting for permission to use your voice. The people who get noticed in meetings aren’t necessarily better. They just decided to contribute. And you can decide that too—starting now.

Want some Executive Presence Coaching, check out this page

📌 Want more strategies on developing executive presence? Read more from the Blog.

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