Let’s clear something up: Executive Presence isn’t just how you stand, speak, or shake hands. It starts before you say a single word.
It starts in your brain.
When Reid, a VP of Marketing for a major studio, came to coaching, he didn’t lack confidence. He was sharp, articulate, and incredibly respected by his peers. But in high-stakes meetings — especially with senior execs — something shifted. He’d feel his voice tighten. He’d second-guess what he was going to say. His posture would shrink just a bit.
Afterward, he’d always think, Why didn’t I sound like myself in there?
Here’s what we uncovered: Reid’s brain was working against his Executive Presence. And once he understood the science behind it, everything changed.
Let’s break it down — and show you how to step into your own powerful presence from the inside out.
1. Understand What Happens to Your Brain Under Pressure
Reid’s Challenge: He noticed that even when he felt confident in his ideas, the moment the stakes rose, he felt smaller. The more senior the room, the more that confident presence faded.
Why This Strategy Works: Your brain is wired for protection, not performance. In high-stakes settings, your amygdala — the brain’s threat detector — can hijack your presence. That leads to stress responses like fidgeting, speaking too quickly, going blank, or shrinking your body language.
How You Can Apply It:
- Notice your physical signals: shallow breathing, fast speech, tension in your shoulders. These are cues your amygdala is activated.
- Normalize the experience. Say to yourself: “This is my brain trying to keep me safe, not sabotage me.”
- Add a pause. A slow inhale gives your prefrontal cortex (your executive brain) time to come online.
Example: Reid started adding a three-second pause before speaking in leadership meetings. It grounded his tone, slowed his pace, and gave his executive brain the lead. People immediately noticed the shift — he sounded more composed, more strategic, and more himself.
2. Use Anchoring to Regulate Before You Walk Into the Room
Reid’s Challenge: He tried to “psych himself up” before big meetings, but often that only increased his stress. What he needed wasn’t hype — it was regulation.
Why This Strategy Works: You can’t access your full presence if your nervous system is in a heightened state. When you regulate your body, your brain follows — and that’s when clarity, calm, and confidence click into place.
How You Can Apply It:
- Before entering a high-stakes space, take 90 seconds to anchor yourself: ➤ Plant your feet on the floor ➤ Take a few deep, intentional breaths ➤ Recall a moment when you felt respected and steady — this brings emotional memory online
- Walk in with that energy as your baseline, not your stress
Example: Before his weekly leadership huddle, Reid started anchoring himself in his office with 2 minutes of stillness and one simple thought: “I know what I bring to this room.” He walked in taller, spoke slower, and felt fully present from the first word.
3. Align Presence with Purpose, Not Performance
Reid’s Challenge: He was caught in the loop of trying to impress. But striving to “look the part” disconnected him from his natural authority.
Why This Strategy Works: Executive Presence isn’t about performing — it’s about connecting your presence to your purpose. When you focus on contribution over impression, your presence becomes magnetic, not manicured.
How You Can Apply It:
- Before the meeting, ask: “What is my purpose in this room?” (e.g., to bring clarity, to lead discussion, to offer insight)
- Let that purpose drive your posture, tone, and words — not the pressure to be perfect
- Practice showing up as you — rooted in what you know, not who you’re trying to prove yourself to be
Example: Reid reframed his goal before meetings from “I need to sound impressive” to “I want to help move this team forward.” This internal shift changed everything. His energy, eye contact, and contributions were grounded in real clarity and service — and others felt it.
Your Next Move: Train Your Brain, Elevate Your Presence
You don’t need to “fake it till you make it.” You don’t need to memorize executive phrases or master perfect posture.
You need to: ➤ Understand what your brain does under pressure ➤ Regulate your body so your leadership brain leads ➤ Align your presence with purpose, not performance
Reid didn’t become someone new — he learned how to show up as who he’s always been. And when he did, his presence didn’t just fill the room — it led it.
You can do the same. It all starts in your brain!
Step Into Your Executive Presence — Fully and Authentically
In my 12-week Excel Leadership Coaching program, I work 1:1 with mid-to-senior level leaders who are ready to lead with more impact, presence, and clarity.
Inside the program, you’ll learn:
🧠 Science-backed tools to regulate your brain and nervous system under pressure
🗣 How to speak with more authority, clarity, and influence
✨How to align your strengths and leadership style to project presence that feels real, not rehearsed
Because when your brain is regulated, your calm and clear leadership presence follows.
Ready to command the room — without losing yourself in the process? Let’s talk. Click here to schedule a FREE 30-minute consultation.
About Phyllis Reagin
Phyllis Reagin, is a doctoral-trained behaviorist, Executive & Leadership Coach and leading expert in Imposter Syndrome and Confidence-Building. She has coached thousands of leaders and teams (from Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, Amazon MGM Studios, Google, Meta, Paramount Global, CNN and more) to lead with greater confidence, influence, and impact. Find out more about Phyllis here.
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