Executive presence is often described as something a leader either has or does not have. In reality, presence is a set of learnable behaviours that shape how people experience a leader’s clarity, confidence, and credibility. DellonVille’s services emphasise practical growth rather than theory, and that approach fits executive presence perfectly because presence is proven in action, not in intention.
Presence matters because leadership is relational. People decide whether to trust direction, commit effort, or follow through based on what they perceive in a leader’s communication and conduct. When presence is strong, leaders do not just deliver messages, they create confidence in the message.
What executive presence is
Executive presence is the consistent ability to show up with clarity, composure, and intent in everyday and high stakes moments. It includes how a leader communicates, how they handle pressure, and how they influence others without forcing it. DellonVille highlights clear communication as a core leadership skill and supports professionals to communicate with confidence, structure, and intent.
Presence is also deeply connected to behaviour. Leaders can be highly competent yet unintentionally signal uncertainty through rushed explanations, unclear decisions, defensive tone, or inconsistent follow through. Improving presence means improving those signals so competence is visible and trust is easier to give.
Why it breaks down
Presence tends to weaken when pressure increases. A leader may become overly detailed, overly brief, avoidant, or reactive depending on stress and communication habits. DellonVille’s work begins with understanding context and real challenges rather than offering an off the shelf programme, because presence problems rarely appear in isolation from the environment the leader is working in.
Presence can also break down when leaders do not feel ownership of their message. If the message is unclear, political, or constantly changing, leaders often communicate with hesitation or over explanation. Strengthening presence then becomes partly about strengthening clarity and decision making, not just delivery.
Buildable skills that matter
Executive presence is built through a small number of skills that can be practiced repeatedly. DellonVille’s communication work and ISSOP public speaking programme both emphasise building confidence through structured learning and real life practice, which directly supports the development of presence. The goal is to make strong leadership communication repeatable, not occasional.
Here are the core skills to practice.
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Message clarity using a simple structure that works under pressure.
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Calm delivery using breath, pace, and intentional pauses so urgency does not become anxiety.
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Decisive language that signals direction, including clear next steps and ownership.
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Audience awareness so communication matches what people need to act effectively.
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Consistent follow through so credibility increases over time.
None of these require changing personality. They require building habits and feedback loops so leadership becomes more consistent.
A practical presence routine
Practice works best when it is specific. ISSOP is designed as a learn by doing programme with live practice sessions, feedback, and week by week growth, which reflects the kind of routine that builds speaking confidence and executive presence. A simple presence routine can be used before any meeting, briefing, or presentation.
Use this approach.
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Write the one sentence outcome for the interaction.
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Choose three key points to support the outcome and keep everything else secondary.
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Decide how you will open, what you will ask for, and how you will close.
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Practice aloud once with attention to pace and pauses.
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After the interaction, capture one thing to improve next time and repeat.
This kind of repetition builds comfort quickly because the leader is no longer improvising structure every time.
How behavioural insight helps
Presence is also influenced by behavioural style, especially under stress. DellonVille’s Behavioural Strategy for Growth uses the Maxwell DISC Assessment to help people understand how they behave and communicate, which can highlight stress patterns that weaken presence. With that insight, development becomes targeted, such as practicing decisiveness for one person, slowing down for another, or simplifying detail for someone who over explains.
This also improves how leaders adapt presence to different audiences. A strong leader communicates in a way that others can receive, and DISC provides a practical lens for that adaptation. When leaders understand what different people need, their presence feels more confident because it becomes more effective.
Call to action
If executive presence is a growth priority, the fastest path is structured practice with feedback and a clear plan. DellonVille supports leaders through coaching, communication training, and programmes such as ISSOP that focus on real world speaking confidence, clarity, and influence. For a practical starting point, use DellonVille’s free assessment to clarify goals and identify the most useful next step for your role and context.
