How to Articulate Your Thoughts More Clearly Than 99% of People

Executive presence is not about charisma but about being a trustworthy leader. To improve it, one should eliminate weak behaviors and replace them with clarity, calmness, and conviction. Five behaviors that kill executive presence include over-explaining, which erodes trust and makes one sound insecure. Fidgeting undermines confidence, as body language should align with one's message through controlled, precise movements. Asking for permission undermines leadership, which is claimed through decisive action and creating certainty for the team. Avoiding hard conversations diminishes respect, as leaders must be truth-tellers. Finally, inconsistency destroys trust, as emotional predictability creates psychological safety, allowing others to perform better.