Trust: The Real Key to Executive Presence By Denny Moynihan & Joe Schaffer

Executive Presence is amorphous. It is difficult to define. Ask ten executives to define it, and you will likely get ten different answers. Yet a recent survey of 400 C-Suite executives, 89% indicated that executive presence helps people get ahead and that 78% indicated that the lack of executive presence holds people back. In a CIO survey by Gartner, executive presence was ranked #2 in a list of key leadership skills.

When people talk about executive presence, they often point to confidence, communication, and composure. But at its core, executive presence comes down to one thing: trust.

Trust is the degree to which others believe your actions align with your words—and that your decisions serve the organization and others, not just yourself. It’s the quiet force behind every effective leader. With trust, a leader can move teams, shape culture, and drive change. Without it, even the most well-crafted vision falls flat.

Sounds simple. It’s not.

Building and maintaining trust is one of the hardest—and most essential—tasks in leadership. It’s the true currency of influence.

Executive Presence in Action

If you want to gauge your own executive presence, start by asking yourself these ten questions:

1. Do my actions inspire trust from others?

2. Do I know when to speak—and when to listen?

3. Am I willing to put in the effort to create and carry out a clear vision?

4. Do I recognize when it’s important to be present, and when it’s better to step back?

5. Can I discern when someone needs to be challenged, and when they simply need to be heard?

6. Do I accept that I don’t have all the answers—and have the humility to admit it?

7. Do I understand when to lead, and when to follow?

8. Do I act with integrity, knowing someone is always watching?

9. Can I sense when it’s time to bring levity, and when it’s time to dig in?

10. Do I realize I have the power to make—or ruin—someone’s day?

If you can genuinely answer “yes” to most of these questions on any given day, you’re well on your way to building the elusive quality known as executive presence.

The Most Important Question

But let’s be honest—there will be days when the answer to many of these questions is “not today.” That’s normal. That’s leadership. What matters most is how you respond.

So here’s the bonus question—arguably the most important of all:

When I fall short, am I willing to pick myself up and commit to doing better tomorrow?

Real executive presence isn’t about perfection, a nice suit of clothes, or fancy vocabulary. It’s about consistency, self-awareness, and the trust that grows when others see you striving to lead with integrity—even when it’s hard.