Developing executive presence during your time at business school could be a worthy challenge. After all, succeeding in business is not just about what you know, but how you carry yourself, communicate, and influence those around you.
Executive presence is that intangible quality that makes people sit up and take notice when you walk into a room. It’s a mix of confidence, clarity in communication, and a professional image that together inspire trust and respect. While some might have a natural flair for it, the good news is that it’s something you can develop—and an executive course is a good place to start.
Participants will get plenty of chances to observe these traits in action during their executive course—whether in case studies, leadership exercises, or just watching how your professors and peers present themselves.
Why executive presence matters
“We all know that we form impressions of other people within a few moments of meeting them, usually based on intangibles that can be hard to pin down,” says Narendra Laljani, director of the executive management program at Henley Business School in the UK.
While some associate it with appearance, she says true executive presence is about behaviors that convey maturity, self-confidence, and the ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
“It’s the ability to command a room, to signal credibility, and to inspire confidence. Credibility is the currency leaders use to get things done, and inspiring confidence is of course what leads others to believe in you and follow you. So this is a critical X-factor,” adds Laljani.
Clear communication and body language
Communication is another key aspect of executive presence. In business programs, leaders often learn how to articulate their vision clearly and persuasively, whether in a boardroom or in front of a large audience.
This isn’t just about what they say but how they say it: their tone, body language, and the ability to listen and respond thoughtfully. Business schools often use role-playing exercises, public speaking workshops, and media training to help leaders master these skills.
On Henley’s executive management program, for instance, executives receive formal 360-degree feedback on how they are perceived. They also get one-on-one executive coaching, an experiential workshop on high-impact communication skills, plus frameworks with which to conduct difficult conversations constructively.
At the Rotterdam School of Management in the Netherlands, Steffen Giessner, professor of organizational behavior and change, says that developing executive presence can be achieved through targeted executive courses, such as those focused on “leading with presence.”
“We combine scientific insights and understanding with many practical exercises,” he says. “Our participants learn to feel comfortable, at ease, and confident when being in the spotlight—what executives are actually most of the time.”
Leadership means instilling trust
Another big component is emotional intelligence. Leaders with strong executive presence are those who remain calm under pressure, who can read a room and respond appropriately—and who build strong relationships across all levels of an organization.
Executive education programs help participants develop these abilities through self-assessment tools, coaching, and peer feedback. Experts say that understanding and managing one’s own emotions, as well as those of others, is crucial to projecting the steadiness and reliability that executive presence demands.“Trust is built not only on the decisions a leader makes but also on how they communicate and the emotional intelligence they exhibit,” says Sami Attaoui, professor of finance at Neoma Business School in France.
“A leader’s conduct sets the tone for the organization, so it is impossible to excel in a management role without adopting the right behaviors. Developing executive presence is not just desirable; it is fundamental to success in leadership positions,” he adds.
Moreover, many executive courses like those offered at Neoma offer a space for reflection—a chance to step back from the day-to-day pressures of leadership and think deeply about one’s personal brand and leadership style. This introspective process allows leaders to align their actions with their values, ensuring that their presence is authentic and consistent.
“In essence, executive presence can indeed be taught,” says Attaoui. “It is the result of continuous learning, self-improvement, and the application of effective leadership practices, all of which can be honed at business school.”
A crucial asset for getting ahead
Sarah Zimmerman, lecturer in executive education at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, says that executive presence is crucial for career advancement, with 26 percent of executives in one survey citing it as necessary for promotion.
She says executive education programs can help build this presence by refining communication skills and gravitas. “It is sincerely hard to be successful beyond middle management without having executive presence and knowledge, related experience, and the ability to engage in hard work.”
Whether it’s through improving communication, enhancing emotional intelligence or fostering self-awareness, business schools can provide the guidance and resources necessary to help executives not just lead—but lead with presence.
