Executive presence is made up of three key ingredients: gravitas, communication skills, and appearance. Sylvia Ann Hewlett (the guru of executive presence) says that while speaking with confidence and owning the room are still top of the list, things are evolving. Now, being at ease on Zoom, having a “listen to learn” vibe, and showing your true self are all gaining importance. And when it comes to appearance, it’s all about looking authentic, dressing for the online world, and knowing how to connect through the camera to display true executive presence.
Luckily for you I wrote the 2nd edition of my best selling book How to Present: the ultimate guide to presenting live and online (Wiley) in response to Covid-19 and the new challenges with presenting, and I added a whole heap of new info about presenting online for you to try yourself.
The question of todays article though….. How can you uplift your virtual communication and therefore your executive presence online? I’ll share some real-life examples of my clients who are doing this.
Command of Zoom (and Teams and everything in between!) Let’s face it—Covid forced us all to lift our game when it comes to online presenting. And while some people took to the screen like ducks to water, others… well, let’s just say the struggle is real.
If you’re someone who still finds it tricky to hold attention, lead with confidence, and influence outcomes in virtual meetings, you’re not alone. Here’s the thing, mastering your presence on Zoom, Teams, Webex (or whatever platform your organisation uses) is no longer optional. If you want to be seen as credible, confident, and compelling—you’ve got to take command of that little camera lens.
You must: Ace the visuals—on camera and on screen
When it comes to looking good online, think: less is more. As you know, the late Steve Jobs knew the power of visuals. He stripped back the distractions—no notes, no flashy PowerPoints, just clean lines, a black turtleneck, a blank backdrop, and full focus on his message. His Zen-like aesthetic wasn’t just style—it was strategy. And it worked.
You don’t have to be Steve Jobs to pull this off! In fact, let me introduce you to some everyday execs who are nailing it:
Sarah, a senior HR leader, opens her Teams town halls with a warm personal story. Her slides are simple (one perfect image/slide), her tone is conversational, she nails eye contact with the camera. It’s like she’s speaking straight to your heart. She cleverly uses people’s names throughout (even though she can’t see them because she’s looking into the camera!). People say they are captivated by her presence.
Nina, an IT executive, pops in a bold blazer (hello bright red!) and uses a ring light, back lighting, room lighting, natural window light – plus she stuffs pillows around the walls and on the floor (that no one can see) for sound proofing and uses a top-notch mic. Her background is tidy and brand-aligned (3 key business books that align with her messages, one artistic plant, her framed leadership awards). The result? She looks sharp, sounds clear, and her people take her seriously.
Tactic: Run virtual meetings like a boss
Gone are the days of ‘winging it’. High-impact virtual meetings start before you even log on.
Take Jason, a project manager in fintech. His meetings are tight, purposeful, and dare I say—fun! He sends out a clear agenda ahead of time, starts bang on time, checks in with everyone throughout the meeting so everyone feels involved, and ends with clarity and commitment. His golden rule? No one leaves the Teams meeting without an action… and a laugh! To ensure this, he rehearses diligently so that he can go ‘off-script’ and respond authentically to people when they speak up (and also when they don’t!).
Or Priya, a change manager who sets the rules brilliantly and everyone knows that we are ‘talking’ it’s not a one-way diatribe. She uses vocal range like a maestro. Mid-meeting, she lowers her voice slightly, slows her pace, and asks a powerful question that she expects everyone to answer in the chat – right now! If you’re pretending to listen or you’ve nicked off to the loo – you’re busted! Her captivating two-way communication is brilliant! Instantly, the energy shifts—her audience leans in and tunes in. They report that they don’t feel like they are online – it feels ‘live’! Wow hey?
And Eli, a sales leader who’s declared his calls a PowerPoint-free zone. Instead, he uses whiteboard tools, storytelling, and breakout rooms to keep the energy up. Cameras are always on. He calls people by their names. He gets everyone talking. His use of the chat function is first class. His team says, “Zoom fatigue? What’s that?”
Here’s your action steps:
Next time you show up on screen, ask yourself:
✔️ What will I wear and how will I style myself to best project my executive presence?
✔️ Are my visuals clean and compelling?
✔️ Am I prepared to lead, not just attend?
✔️ Do I know what I’m saying so that I can focus on the connection through the camera instead of my notes or slides?
✔️ How can I vary my voice and energy help people stay engaged?
✔️ Have I got enough two-way communication tactics to use throughout to keep people hooked?s
If you’re not sure—or you’d love a second pair of eyes on your slides, script, or setup—just reach out. You don’t have to do this alone. And…our next 1-day Mastering Virtual Presentation Skills is coming up – please think about attending!
Let’s make sure your virtual presence is as persuasive as your in-person presence.
Happy presenting!
Who is Michelle Bowden? MICHELLE BOWDEN is an authority on persuasive presenting in business. She’s run her Persuasive Presentation Skills Masterclass over 1000 times for more than 13,000 people over the past 26 years and her name is a synonym for ‘presentation skills’ in Australia. She’s the best-selling internationally published author of How to Present: the ultimate guide to presenting live and online (Wiley).
Michelle is the number one speaker on persuasion at work, the creator of the Persuasion Smart Profile® (a world-first psychological assessment tool that reports on your persuasive strengths and weaknesses at work), the best-selling author of How to Persuade: the skills you need to get what you want (Wiley). And she’s also a multi-million-dollar pitch coach to her client list that reads like a who’s who of international business: banking and finance, IT, pharmaceutical, retail, telecommunications plus many more.
Visit www.michellebowden.com.au
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