One thing that has come up repeatedly in my coaching conversations recently is confidence.
What strikes me is how often very capable, experienced people believe confidence is something they need to do. They tell themselves they need to prepare more, think more, polish more, or rehearse more. If they can just get the slides perfect or anticipate every possible question, then perhaps they will finally feel confident enough.
I don’t think confidence works like that.
Preparation matters, of course. I would never suggest otherwise. However, many of the leaders I work with are already exceptionally well prepared. The issue is rarely a lack of expertise. More often, what gets in the way is what is happening internally.
Under pressure, the mind speeds up. Self-doubt gets louder. We become hyper-aware of ourselves. We start trying to manage impressions instead of simply communicating. The result is often overthinking, over-explaining and searching for confidence in things outside ourselves.
What I have noticed is that confidence seems to have much less to do with doing and much more to do with being.
It comes from feeling grounded. From being present enough to think clearly. From understanding your own patterns and recognising when fear is beginning to take over. It comes from self-awareness, not self-criticism.
The leaders with the strongest executive presence are rarely the most performative people in the room. They are often the people who appear settled within themselves. Their thinking, voice and message are aligned. They trust themselves enough not to fill every silence, not to rush, and not to prove their worth every time they speak.
Stillness is underrated.
In a world that constantly rewards more action, more productivity and more noise, we often forget that some of our best thinking happens when we slow down. We forget that calm is not the absence of pressure. It is the ability to remain connected to yourself in the middle of it.
Perhaps that is why so much of executive presence is internal. Before it becomes visible in our voice, our communication or our leadership, it starts with something quieter.
Not with doing more, but with becoming more rooted in who we already are.
Confidence, in my experience, is not something you put on. It is something you return to.
If you are curious about how your communication and presence are currently landing, I created the Speak Proud Executive Presence Assessment.
It takes just a few minutes to complete and is designed to help directors and senior leaders identify where they are already strong, and where pressure may be affecting their authority, confidence and impact. Sometimes the smallest shifts create the biggest differences.
https://speakproud.scoreapp.com
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Lisa Sheerin, ICF PCC Executive Coach | Transforming Confidence, Communication & Leadership
Lisa works as an executive public speaking coach, actor, and group fitness instructor with over 20 years of experience. A graduate of a three-year drama school program in London, she began her career in theatre and film, where she faced and overcame imposter syndrome. Today, she empowers others to embrace their authenticity and transform self-doubt into confidence, combining her acting expertise, fitness training, and passion for personal growth. Her mission is to guide others toward a life where they can speak and live proudly.
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