The Executive Presence Problem: Why “Leadership Potential” Feels Like a Moving Target (And How to Actually Demonstrate It)

Recently, I have been reflecting on this issue, and here’s what I’ve come up with. Executive presence isn’t about charisma or confidence tricks. It’s about demonstrating a specific set of communication competencies that signal you can handle the complexity of leadership (Goffee & Jones, 2000). And the fastest way to reveal those competencies? Master the art of navigating difficult conversations in real time.