Speak Like a CEO

Send us Fan MailExecutive presence is the difference between having the right answer and actually sounding like a CEO in the room. If you've ever wondered how to speak with confidence when the stakes are high — and then watched someone less prepared get taken more seriously than you — this episode is about why that keeps happening.Here's the uncomfortable part: it isn't about intelligence, and it isn't a gap in your leadership skills. Some of the smartest, most capable people I coach are the easiest to tune out. There are three small speaking habits — things you're very likely doing without noticing — that make you read as junior, tentative, and forgettable, no matter how good your thinking is.But technique has a ceiling. The real thing that separates a forgettable presenter from someone who commands the room isn't polish at all — it's a single shift most leaders are too cautious to make. Miss it, and you stay the person nobody remembers once the meeting's over.If you want to build executive presence, speak with confidence, and stop getting overlooked, this one's for you.Rusty Gaillard is an executive coach, helping mid-level corporate leaders create more career success while working less and enjoying it more. That's real freedom.Get more leadership tips to grow your skillset and mindset at rustygaillard.com, and follow Rusty on LinkedIn.