Own the Room: A 5-Step Guide to Building Executive Presence & Visibility

By Bridgett Battles, Executive Presence & Style Strategist

Executive presence isn’t reserved for the C-suite.

It’s for every professional ready to show up with confidence, lead with purpose, and influence with authenticity.

Whether you’re presenting to executives, walking into a boardroom, or commanding a Zoom call, presence is the power that positions you as someone who owns the room—without ever needing to announce it.

This guide gives you five transformational steps to elevate your presence and become unforgettable in your career and industry.

Let’s begin.

STEP 1: Define Your Leadership Signature

Ask yourself:

• What do I want people to feel when I enter a room?

• What values do I want to be known for?

• What impression do I leave behind?

This is the foundation of your professional image. Your leadership signature should align with your voice, visuals, and values. When you know who you are and own it, your presence speaks before you do.

 Write a one-sentence personal presence statement that describes your leadership energy.

STEP 2: Dress with Intention, Not Just Style

Your wardrobe is a tool, not just an outfit.

Intentional style means:

• Wearing power colors that energize and communicate authority

• Choosing silhouettes that align with your brand

• Showing up polished, not perfect

Clothes won’t make you a leader, but they will reinforce the message you’re already delivering.

 Identify 2-3 signature style pieces that reflect your leadership brand.

STEP 3: Curate a Visible Digital Presence

Visibility is currency. In today’s world, your executive presence extends beyond the boardroom.

Make sure your:

• LinkedIn profile photo is current, confident, and polished

• Headline and bio communicate your authority and impact

• Content reflects your point of view and voice as a leader

 Audit your LinkedIn profile and update one section to reflect your current leadership position or future aspirations.

STEP 4: Speak to Be Seen AND Heard

Your voice is a key part of presence. Do you:

• Speak with clarity and confidence?

• Use storytelling to create a connection?

• Command attention with your tone, pace, and pauses?

Remember: presence isn’t loud. It’s felt.

Practice a 60-second introduction that highlights who you are, what you do, and what impact you bring.

STEP 5: Be Consistent in Every Room

Whether you’re on camera, on stage, or at the coffee machine, your presence should be consistent.

Consistency builds trust. It makes you reliable. And it reinforces that your brand is not a performance.

 Identify one way you can show up with greater consistency this week—in dress, communication, or digital presence.

You don’t have to chase perfection to be powerful. You don’t need a title to be respected. You need presence.

Start with these five steps, and you’ll no longer wonder how to get noticed. You’ll own the room every time you enter it.

Want more? Apply to work with me inside The BBExperience — where high-achieving professionals learn to lead with bold presence, powerful style, and undeniable authority.