Executive Presence Training Course

Duration 5 days 10 modules · 33 contact hours
Level Advanced Certificate on completion
Who attends Senior Managers, Directors and others
Fee from USD 1,100 KSh 95,000 for Kenyan organisations
Where 52 cities + online See dates by city
Next start 9 Nov 2026 Course code SD-LD-140

Before you join: Participants should have substantial management, specialist or client-facing experience and regularly communicate with senior colleagues, customers, boards or external partners.

Dates & prices

Two start dates a month in every city, and live online on weekdays or weekends. Fees are per participant; classroom fees include tuition, materials, lunch and refreshments, and the certificate.

Suggest a date or city

Showing the next six months. Later dates, other cities and private deliveries for your team are available on request.

Course overview

Executive presence affects whether senior stakeholders trust a leader’s judgement, listen to their recommendations and assign them visible responsibility. Technical expertise alone is insufficient when decisions must be defended in board meetings, investment committees, client briefings, regulatory discussions or cross-functional reviews. Leaders can lose influence through rushed answers, unclear messages, reactive body language, weak vocal delivery or an inability to hold their ground during challenge.

This advanced course develops the behavioural disciplines behind credible, composed and persuasive leadership presence. Participants assess their current impact, regulate their response under pressure and communicate with authority without becoming forceful or detached. They use the Pyramid Principle, Message House, Aristotle’s rhetorical appeals, SBI feedback and DESC conflict scripts to prepare and deliver executive-level messages. The course also addresses vocal control, nonverbal signals, meeting leadership, difficult questions, reputation-sensitive moments and credible virtual communication.

Teaching combines concise instructor briefings with filmed communication practice, realistic executive cases, group analysis, simulations and structured peer feedback. Cases reflect situations such as presenting an investment recommendation, responding to a public-service scrutiny panel, handling a dissatisfied major client or leading a tense restructuring discussion. Participants leave with a personal executive presence dossier containing a stakeholder analysis, message structures, behavioural feedback, high-stakes interaction plans and a 30-day application plan. The course is suited to experienced managers and senior specialists whose role requires frequent influence with senior decision-makers.

What you will be able to do

  • Diagnose executive presence strengths and gaps using stakeholder evidence and behavioural observation
  • Regulate physiological and emotional responses during high-pressure leadership interactions
  • Structure executive messages using the Pyramid Principle and Message House
  • Deliver concise recommendations with clear decisions, evidence, risks and accountability
  • Project authority through vocal delivery, nonverbal communication and purposeful use of space
  • Lead senior meetings with effective framing, listening, interruption and closing techniques
  • Handle challenge, conflict and difficult questions using SBI, DESC and bridging techniques
  • Build a stakeholder-specific executive presence plan with measurable behavioural commitments

Benefits of attending

For you

  • Greater credibility when presenting recommendations to senior decision-makers
  • Clearer responses during challenge, scrutiny and difficult questioning
  • More controlled vocal and nonverbal communication under pressure
  • Stronger ability to lead meetings without dominating discussion
  • A practical plan for improving visibility and leadership reputation

For your organisation

  • More credible representation in board, client, regulatory and partner meetings
  • Higher-quality executive recommendations with clearer decisions and accountabilities
  • Reduced escalation caused by reactive communication and poorly handled conflict
  • More effective senior meetings with explicit outcomes, owners and deadlines
  • A stronger internal pipeline for visible leadership roles

Course modules

10 modules over 5 days

Participants can identify the behavioural signals shaping their executive presence and leadership reputation.

  • Executive presence dimensions: gravitas, communication and visible professional judgement
  • Presence diagnostic using stakeholder expectations, high-stakes moments and behavioural evidence
  • Reputation audit distinguishing intended identity from observed leadership signals
  • Status cues interpreted without confusing confidence, authority and dominance
  • Credibility triangle: expertise, trustworthiness and intent under executive scrutiny
  • Personal presence objectives linked to role mandate and stakeholder priorities

Participants can maintain composure and make deliberate communication choices in pressured situations.

  • Somatic grounding techniques for steadiness before consequential executive interactions
  • Box breathing and physiological sighs used to manage activation
  • Attention control through implementation intentions and pre-performance routines
  • Emotional labelling interrupts reactive speech and defensive body language
  • Trigger maps connect pressure situations, automatic responses and replacement behaviours
  • Recovery protocols follow criticism, conflict or visible leadership mistakes

Participants can express judgement, recommendations and boundaries with calibrated confidence.

  • Calibrated confidence states recommendations, evidence, risks and decision requests
  • BLUF structure produces concise updates for senior decision-makers
  • Pyramid Principle sequencing: answer first, supporting argument, evidence last
  • Strategic pauses strengthen responses to challenge questions and objections
  • Boundary statements decline unsuitable work without damaging important relationships
  • Decision narratives separate facts, assumptions, trade-offs and accountability

Participants can construct persuasive executive messages for defined stakeholder decisions.

  • Aristotle's ethos, logos and pathos applied to executive messages
  • Message House development: core proposition, pillars, proof and audience benefit
  • Audience analysis maps power, interests, objections and required action
  • Three-part openings establish context, significance and a clear agenda
  • Signposting language maintains attention through complex briefings and recommendations
  • Closing asks specify owner, decision, deadline and next governance step

Participants can use vocal techniques to communicate authority, clarity and calm judgement.

  • Vocal baseline assessment covers pace, pitch, volume, resonance and articulation
  • Diaphragmatic breathing supports projection without strain or forced volume
  • Pauses, emphasis and pace variation make key messages memorable
  • Filler-word reduction uses silent pauses and prepared transition phrases
  • Articulation drills improve clarity for numbers, names and technical terms
  • Question intonation and downward endings strengthen declarative authority

Participants can align nonverbal signals with the authority and intent of their message.

  • Neutral stance, grounded feet and open chest project composed authority
  • Eye-contact patterns balance inclusion, authority and cultural sensitivity
  • Gesture zones and purposeful movement reinforce rather than distract from meaning
  • Facial expression management prevents unintended scepticism, anxiety or impatience
  • Spatial positioning at tables shapes participation and perceived leadership
  • Attire and grooming choices align with role, culture and occasion

Participants can establish authority and guide senior groups towards clear decisions.

  • Meeting-entry routines establish connection before formal discussion begins
  • Agenda framing clarifies purpose, decision rights, constraints and desired outcomes
  • Interruption techniques reclaim airtime without escalating tension or appearing defensive
  • Question-led influence surfaces concerns before presenting preferred recommendations
  • Listening summaries demonstrate judgement, reduce misunderstanding and move discussion forward
  • Executive meeting closes confirm decisions, dissent, owners and deadlines

Participants can handle conflict, feedback and hostile questioning while protecting credibility.

  • SBI feedback structure addresses observable behaviour, impact and required change
  • DESC script prepares firm requests during conflict or resistance
  • Bridging techniques redirect hostile questions towards relevant evidence and decisions
  • Steelman listening articulates opposing views before responding to substantive concerns
  • Apology framework distinguishes accountability, remedy, prevention and appropriate timing
  • Media-style response discipline prevents speculation during reputationally sensitive questions

Participants can maintain credible executive presence in virtual and hybrid leadership settings.

  • Camera framing, lighting and eyeline create credible virtual executive presence
  • Virtual meeting openings set participation rules, outcomes and decision process
  • Digital vocal pacing compensates for latency, compression and reduced nonverbal cues
  • Slide minimalism uses one message, evidence and decision per screen
  • Chat, polls and reaction signals inform participation without fragmenting attention
  • Hybrid-room protocols include remote participants in questions, decisions and follow-up

Participants can apply targeted executive presence behaviours across their priority stakeholder interactions.

  • Stakeholder-specific presence plans address board, peer, team and client contexts
  • Executive scenario preparation combines message architecture, voice and nonverbal choices
  • Feedforward conversations convert observed patterns into future behavioural commitments
  • Peer feedback calibrates against observable behaviours rather than personality judgements
  • Thirty-day application plan schedules practice, feedback and high-stakes opportunities
  • Personal scorecard tracks presence goals, evidence and adjustment actions

Exercises and examples are adapted to each cohort's sectors and roles.

What you take back to work

  1. Executive presence diagnostic and stakeholder reputation map
  2. Pyramid Principle executive briefing template
  3. Message House communication planner
  4. High-stakes meeting preparation checklist
  5. Difficult conversation script pack using SBI and DESC
  6. Thirty-day executive presence application plan

Who should attend

  • Senior Managers — need greater authority in cross-functional and executive forums
  • Directors — represent functions, programmes or business units before senior stakeholders
  • High-Potential Leaders — prepare for broader leadership visibility and promotion decisions
  • Programme Directors — lead complex change conversations with competing interests
  • Client Relationship Directors — build confidence during high-value client discussions
  • Technical and Professional Experts — translate specialist judgement into persuasive executive recommendations

Skills and tools covered

Executive communicationComposed authorityStakeholder influenceVocal deliveryDifficult conversationsMeeting leadership

Tools and standards

Pyramid Principle, Message House, SBI feedback model, DESC script

How the course runs

Training methodology

The course uses short instructor briefings to establish models, followed by cases, group analysis, simulations and filmed communication practice. Participants prepare messages for realistic leadership situations, including senior briefings, contested decisions, difficult feedback and virtual meetings. Structured observation and peer feedback focus on visible behaviours: message structure, voice, pace, posture, listening and response to challenge. Individual reflection converts feedback into specific application commitments for upcoming workplace interactions.

Requirements and prerequisites

Participants should have substantial management, specialist or client-facing experience and regularly communicate with senior colleagues, customers, boards or external partners. They should be prepared to discuss real workplace situations and receive direct feedback on communication behaviours. Familiarity with standard business presentations and meetings is assumed. This is not an introductory public-speaking course, and it is not designed for participants with little professional responsibility. No prior coaching qualification, theatre training, formal rhetoric training or personality assessment is required.

A typical training day

08:30 – 10:30First session
10:30 – 10:45Refreshment break
10:45 – 12:30Second session
12:30 – 13:30Lunch and networking
13:30 – 15:00Third session
15:00 – 15:15Refreshment break
15:15 – 16:30Workshop and daily review

Live online deliveries follow the same structure in East Africa Time, with shorter screen blocks and longer breaks.

What the fee includes

  • Instruction by a practitioner facilitator
  • Full course workbook and materials
  • Exercise files, templates and case studies
  • Refreshments and lunch on classroom deliveries
  • Certificate of completion
  • Post-course application plan

Frequently asked questions

You should have substantial management, specialist or client-facing experience and a role involving senior stakeholders. The course assumes familiarity with business meetings and presentations, but does not require prior coaching or public-speaking training.

Bring examples of upcoming meetings, presentations or difficult conversations where your leadership presence matters. You may also bring a current slide deck, briefing paper or stakeholder challenge, provided it can be discussed appropriately.

It is designed for senior managers, directors, high-potential leaders, programme leads, relationship directors and experienced experts. It is particularly useful for people moving into more visible leadership roles.

Presentation training concentrates mainly on prepared delivery to an audience. This course also addresses leadership reputation, composure, meeting behaviour, difficult questions, conflict, influence, nonverbal signals and virtual executive interactions.

Participants work with real leadership situations, such as board updates, investment cases, client meetings and contentious decisions. The final application plan identifies priority stakeholders, target behaviours, feedback sources and specific upcoming opportunities.

Each day runs from 08:30 to 16:30 and provides about 6.5 contact hours. The programme contains ten modules, combining instructor input with communication practice, case analysis, simulations, feedback and application planning.

Questions about this course?

Ask about dates, fees, group bookings or running it for your team. Our training team replies by email.

Ask on WhatsApp info@skillsetdevelopment.com

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