If someone has all the Seven Cs of Executive Presence but lacks confidence, which aspect should they work on?

The presence of confidence is fundamental to executive presence, which is a key aspect of leadership and influence. Confidence enhances how individuals communicate, engage with others, and assert their ideas. Without this critical component, even those who exhibit the other Seven Cs of Executive Presence may struggle to command respect and inspire trust among their peers and subordinates.

While composure, connection, and credibility are important attributes, they often rely on an underlying sense of confidence to be effective. For example, composure facilitates an individual’s ability to maintain control during stressful situations, but if one lacks confidence, it can be challenging to appear composed. Similarly, connection refers to how well an individual relates to others; without confidence, they may struggle to initiate or maintain meaningful relationships. Credibility, which is built upon expertise and reliability, can also falter if a leader does not project confidence in their own skills and decisions.

Focusing on developing confidence will enable the individual to fully leverage the other Seven Cs, thereby amplifying their executive presence and effectiveness as a leader. This highlights the importance of confidence as not simply a standalone attribute but as a pivotal element that enhances the entire framework of executive presence.