Welcome to The Quiet Rich, your weekly guide to a quiet mind and rich life. Today we’re talking about executive presence (and the subtle signs that you have it). 🙌 

CONTEXT

Here's what most people get wrong about executive presence:

They think it's about commanding the room with big gestures, impressive vocabulary, and dominating every conversation.

But I've been in enough senior meetings at Google to know the reality. The leaders who people actually want to follow? They're usually the quietest ones in the room.

Real executive presence isn't about being loud—it's about making others feel heard. It's the difference between demanding attention and freely giving it to your team.

I learned this lesson the hard way early in my career. I used to think I needed to have all the answers, speak the most, and never show uncertainty. But the more I tried to “impress,” the less impact I had.

Then I started studying the leaders I actually respected. What I discovered changed everything about how I show up in professional settings.

6 subtle tips for executive presence:

METHOD

1. Master the strategic pause. 

Don’t rush to fill the silence. The most influential leaders pause before speaking. That 2-3 second pause signals thoughtfulness and confidence.

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2. Lead with questions, not answers. Instead of immediately offering solutions, ask: "What's the real challenge here?" Executive presence isn't about being the smartest person in the room. It's about elevating everyone else's thinking.

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3. Own your physical space. Your body language speaks before you do. Keep your shoulders back, make deliberate eye contact, and use gestures that reinforce rather than distract from your message.

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4. Communicate in headlines. 

Start with the conclusion, then provide context. "We need to pivot our Q4 strategy. Here's why..." gets attention. Burying your key point in paragraph three loses it entirely.

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5. Show genuine curiosity about others. 

Executive presence isn't about being impressive; it's about being interested. Ask follow-up questions. Remember details from previous conversations. People gravitate toward leaders who make them feel heard and valued.

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6. Embrace productive disagreement. Don't avoid conflict; reframe it.  "I see it differently, and here's why that might benefit us..." It shows you can navigate tension while keeping relationships intact.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Here's the counterintuitive truth about executive presence: it grows stronger when you focus less on how you're perceived and more on the value you're creating for others.

The most magnetic leaders I know aren't trying to impress anyone. They're genuinely curious about solving problems and helping people succeed.

Start with just one of these techniques this week. Master the strategic pause, or practice leading with questions instead of answers. Make your team feel heard. (One of my best management hacks of all time is creating a “work with me” manual. I wrote a LinkedIn post about this and got the best messages from all of who you did the exercise with with your team.)

Because here's what I've learned: Executive presence isn't something you fake until you make it. It's something you develop by consistently showing up as someone others want to follow.

Until next week,

Jade

P.S. One of the fastest ways to boost your executive presence at work? Build your LinkedIn brand. Seriously. Upgrade your profile so it positions you as a leader. Start posting content that demonstrates why you’re an expert in your field.

When I started doing this, I was shocked by how many (super senior) executives at Google would send me an email saying they loved my LinkedIn posts. It started relationships that never would have happened otherwise!

Don’t waste time trying to figure LinkedIn out yourself. Ben Meer and I will teach you all our shortcuts in Archimedes, our private coaching program. It starts on September 29th!

This week is your final chance to join. Applications close on September 24th at 10pm EDT. And the checkout link closes on September 26th at 10pm EDT (but we’re tracking to sell out sooner)!

Read all the reviews and apply here (it only takes 3 mins)

I hope to meet you in our Welcome Call with Ben Meer, Colby Kultgen and myself next week!