| Over the last few weeks I’ve been asked by several London-based organisations to design and deliver bespoke training sessions to teams of EAs and PAs. Interestingly, there’s been one dominant theme I’ve been asked to educate the profession on. That theme is “Executive Presence”. I’d like to educate you on this topic over the next few Lunch n Learn Issues. Drawing on practical learning and proven development approaches, I’m going to share how you can build and sustain Executive Presence through mindset, communication and continuous improvement. Executive Presence for the EA : Part I Executive Presence. It’s no longer a “nice to have” for Executive Assistants and Personal Assistants. It’s a core professional capability. As the strategic partner to senior leaders, your presence influences how you are perceived, how effectively you communicate, and ultimately how much impact you have within the organisation. What is Executive Presence? Executive Presence is the ability to project confidence, credibility, and composure while communicating with clarity and purpose. For EAs, it’s about being seen as a trusted professional who adds value, influences outcomes, and represents both themselves and their executive with authority. It is not about hierarchy or personality type – it is about how you show up. This includes: Your mindset and self-belief The language you use Your communication style (verbal, vocal, and visual) Your ability to handle challenges with professionalism Practical takeaway: Ask yourself: How do I want to be perceived in meetings, emails, and interactions? Then align your behaviour intentionally with that vision. The Link with Self-Esteem At the heart of Executive Presence lies self-esteem. If you do not believe in your own value, it will be difficult for others to recognise it. A powerful way to build self-awareness and confidence is through a Personal SWOT analysis which you can read more about here. Strengths: What do you do well? Weaknesses: Where can you improve? Opportunities: What can you develop or explore? Threats: What might hold you back? Best practice is to revisit this every 2–3 months, allowing you to track growth and adjust your development focus. Practical takeaway: Schedule 20 minutes of uninterrupted “thinking time” this month to complete a Personal SWOT. Date it, keep it, and review it regularly. This is an investment in your professional growth. |
