79. 10 Powerful Tips to Build Executive Presence and Command Any Room

Most people think executive presence is about speaking the loudest, wearing a power suit, or throwing around corporate jargon. Kendall Berg is here to tell you that’s all wrong. Executive presence is about influence. The best leaders don’t dominate conversations—they know how to ask the right questions, build strong relationships, and stay composed under pressure.

In this episode of Secrets of the Career Game, Kendall breaks down the three core pillars of executive presence and reveals practical strategies to help you develop leadership skills that actually matter. 

She shares why talking less can make you more powerful, how to handle high-pressure situations like a pro, and the fastest way to destroy your executive presence (spoiler: it’s being too detailed). If you’ve ever felt like you’re not “naturally” a leader, this episode will change your mind.

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In this episode, we discuss:

• 🔹 What are the three pillars of executive presence, and how do they help you lead effectively?
• 🔹 Why do top executives ask more questions instead of giving all the answers?
• 🔹 How can you stay calm and composed when things go sideways at work?
• 🔹 What’s the #1 mistake people make that kills their executive presence?

Watch on YouTube

Key Takeaways

Introduction (00:00 – 07:02)

• Kendall admits they were once terrible at all the soft skills they now coach
• Executive presence is NOT about being louder, more outspoken, having all the answers, being the smartest, what you wear, or using corporate jargon
• People can have great executive presence regardless of speaking style, attire, or past mistakes
• Executive presence is fundamentally about INFLUENCE
• Anyone can learn to develop executive presence – it’s not an innate ability

Three Core Pillars of Executive Presence (07:02 – 15:54)

• First pillar: Building relationships and a strong network
• Easier to have influence when you know the backgrounds, goals, and priorities of others
• Relationship building reduces nervousness when presenting to senior leaders
• This applies even in public speaking – you build relationships with your audience over time
• Second pillar: Asking effective questions
• Great leaders ask insightful questions rather than having all the answers
• Requires active listening to understand context and ask meaningful questions
• Third pillar: Emotional stability
• People with great executive presence remain calm under pressure
• Not being defensive, argumentative, or panicked when facing challenges
• Preparing ‘proactive mitigation responses’ (PMRs) for workplace triggers

Supporting Elements of Executive Presence (15:54 – 22:33)

• Attire matters contextually – should align with your company culture
• Communication style should align with your company’s language and terms
• Speaking the same ‘language’ as your colleagues helps gain traction
• Balance in communication is key – not speaking most but speaking meaningfully
• Recommendation: Identify 2-3 people with executive presence you admire and ask at least one to mentor you
• Create concrete goals around building executive presence with your boss

Practical Tips for Building Executive Presence (22:33 – 26:51)

• Biggest executive presence killer: Being too detailed in communications
• Technical experts often go too deep into details too quickly
• Start communications with context setting: problem statement, objectives, high-level summary
• Have supporting details ready if asked, but begin at a high level

That Career Coach

Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach?

Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_

Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/

Build out the tools you need to navigate the corporate game: — Self Driven Mastermind