1.0 Introduction

Let me ask you something...

Have you ever walked out of an executive meeting thinking:

"Why didn't they approve my budget request when the reasoning was so obvious?"

"How did that conversation go sideways so quickly?"

"Why do they keep questioning my technical recommendations?"

If so, you're not alone. And contrary to what you might think, the problem isn't your technical expertise or even your communication skills.

It's your Executive Presence.

Now, I know what you're thinking: "Great, Robert. Another soft skill I don't have time for. I'm drowning in infrastructure problems, staffing issues, and digital transformation initiatives!"

Trust me, I get it.

I've spent over 30 years in technology leadership, including partner at Accenture, CIO roles, and driving two tech startups to successful $50M+ exits. I've presented to countless boardrooms and coached dozens of technology executives facing the EXACT same challenges you are.

And here's what I've discovered:

Executive presence isn't something you DO. It's something you UNLOCK by eliminating the habits that are sabotaging your impact.

In this newsletter, I'm going to show you exactly how to do that, even with your insane schedule.

But first, let's get something straight...

2.0 The REAL Reason CIOs Struggle With Executive Presence

Most advice on executive presence is useless for technology leaders.

"Stand up straight!" "Make eye contact!" "Speak with confidence!"

Sure, these things matter. But they're surface-level tactics that don't address the root cause.

The REAL issue? Your brain is trapped in "Reactivity" mode.

This is the habitual pattern that develops when you're constantly putting out fires, managing crisis after crisis, and dealing with never-ending technical emergencies.

It’s the tech leader equivalent of the “fight or flight” response.

When you're in this mode:

• Your body language screams "I'm overwhelmed"

• Your communication style becomes hurried and technical

• Your thinking narrows to immediate problems rather than strategic vision

• Your ability to read the room and adapt your message disappears

The result? Even when you DO get precious minutes in front of the executive team, you show up as the "technical problem solver" rather than the "strategic business leader."

And here's the kicker:

It's not your fault…BUT it’s your responsibility to change it.

This pattern develops because you're good at your job. You've been rewarded throughout your career for solving problems quickly and efficiently. Your brain has been trained to operate this way.

But what got you to the CIO role won't get you the influence and impact you need IN that role.

3.0 The 5 Habitual Patterns Destroying Your Executive Presence

Through my work with hundreds of technology leaders, I've identified five specific habitual patterns that undermine executive presence:

1. The Crisis Junkie

This pattern makes EVERYTHING feel urgent. You're addicted to the adrenaline rush of solving problems, creating an environment where true priorities get lost in the noise.

When this habit is in control, you walk into meetings looking harried and distracted. Your colleagues perceive you as reactive rather than strategic.

2. The Perfectionist

This habit demands flawlessness, causing you to over-prepare, over-explain, and overwhelm your audience with technical details.

In the boardroom, this manifests as lengthy presentations packed with data but lacking clear business outcomes. You're trying to prove your technical expertise rather than demonstrating business leadership.

3. The Imposter Doubter

This pattern whispers that you don't belong at the executive table. It causes you to second-guess yourself, use tentative language, and avoid taking strong positions.

Executive teams sense this uncertainty and respond by questioning your recommendations more deeply, creating a vicious cycle of diminishing confidence.

4. The Lone Ranger

This habit convinces you that you must handle everything yourself. You become the bottleneck for decisions and information, appearing overwhelmed and isolated.

This undermines your executive presence by making you seem incapable of building and leveraging a strong team.

5. The Analysis Paralytic

This pattern demands more and more data before making decisions. In board meetings, you appear indecisive and risk-averse, unable to provide clear direction amidst uncertainty.

Executive teams quickly lose confidence in leaders who can't make timely decisions with imperfect information.

I remember working with a leader at a major healthcare organization who was brilliant technically but struggled to get his digital transformation initiatives approved. In our first session, I asked him which of these patterns resonated most.

"ALL OF THEM," he said with a laugh. "But especially the Crisis Junkie. I'm constantly putting out fires, and when I finally get in front of the executive team, I'm still in that reactive mode."

Six months later, he'd secured approval for his full budget request and was being included in strategic business discussions beyond technology.

What changed?

He implemented the Executive Presence Accelerator framework I'm about to share with you.

4.0 The Way Out

This three-part framework doesn't require adding more to your already full plate. Instead, it focuses on transforming how you show up in the moments that matter most.

Step 1: Interrupt the Reactive Pattern

The first step is to create a circuit breaker between your daily operational mode and your executive presence mode.

This begins with the 90-Second Presence Reset I mentioned earlier this week:

PHYSICALLY RESET (30 seconds)

Find a private space. Stand tall. Take three deep breaths, expanding your diaphragm. Roll your shoulders back and down. Feel your feet planted firmly on the ground.

MENTALLY RESET (30 seconds)

Ask yourself: "What is the ONE outcome that matters most in this meeting?" Not three things. ONE thing. Visualize achieving this outcome clearly.

EMOTIONALLY RESET (30 seconds)

Recall a time when you felt completely in control and confident. Anchor yourself in that feeling. Let it wash over you.

This reset protocol works because it triggers a physiological state change. Your brain literally shifts from "threat response" mode (where executive presence is impossible) to "leadership mode."

I've had clients create calendar reminders 5 minutes before important meetings just to ensure they have time for this reset. It's THAT powerful.

Step 2: Reframe Your Role Identity

The second step addresses a fundamental mindset shift that most CIOs struggle with.

Most technology leaders see themselves primarily as "the person responsible for technology." But that identity LIMITS your executive presence.

Executive teams don't want "the technology person." They want a business leader who understands technology's role in driving organizational success.

This reframing happens through a simple but powerful technique I call "The Business First Filter."

Before any executive interaction, run your communication through these three questions:

1. How does this technology issue/initiative impact business outcomes that the executive team cares about?

2. What's the business risk or opportunity here, NOT just the technical one?

3. If I were the CEO, what would I need to know about this to make a good decision?

Let me give you a real example:

BEFORE THE REFRAME: "We need to upgrade our ERP system because the current one is reaching end-of-life and won't be supported after next year."

AFTER THE REFRAME: "We have an opportunity to reduce operational costs by 15% and improve customer delivery times by upgrading our core business systems. The current system becomes unsupported next year, creating both a timing opportunity and a potential risk to our order fulfillment capability."

Same information. COMPLETELY different impact.

One leader I worked with started recording himself during practice runs before board meetings, then counting how many times he mentioned technical details versus business outcomes. In just eight weeks, he completely transformed his messaging.

The result? His CEO started bringing him into strategic business discussions that previously happened without IT representation.

Step 3: Develop Composure Under Pressure

The final component of the framework focuses on maintaining presence when things get tough - because they will.

This is where we implement the P.A.U.S.E. Framework:

P - PAUSE. Take a breath. Resist the urge to respond immediately.

A - ACKNOWLEDGE the question's importance. "That's an excellent question about our security strategy."

U - UNDERSTAND more if needed. "To make sure I address your concern, could you clarify which aspect you're most interested in?"

S - SPEAK deliberately. Slower pace. Lower tone. Simple language.

E - END with commitment. If you don't know, say: "I don't have that specific data point right now, but I'll get it to you by end of day tomorrow."

This framework prevents the most common executive presence killers: becoming defensive, getting flustered, or diving into technical explanations that lose the room.

Think about it - how many times have you seen a brilliant technical explanation completely FAIL to persuade anyone?

One leader I coached had a breakthrough when she realized she was answering questions that weren't actually being asked. The board would ask about business risk, and she'd launch into technical details about the solution.

By implementing the P.A.U.S.E. framework, she started truly hearing what was being asked and addressing the actual concerns. The feedback from her CEO was immediate: "For the first time, I feel like we're having a business conversation, not a technical one."

5.0 Putting It All Together

These three components - the Presence Reset Protocol, the Business First Filter, and the PAUSE Framework - form a complete system for transforming your executive presence without adding more to your already overwhelming schedule.

But here's what makes this approach different from typical executive presence advice:

It doesn't require you to become someone you're not.

Technical leaders often think executive presence means acting like the sales or marketing executives. It doesn't.

Your analytical mind is a STRENGTH. Your attention to detail is valuable. Your technical expertise is crucial.

The key is channeling these strengths through the lens of business leadership, not just technical expertise.

After implementing this framework, my clients report:

• Budget approvals with fewer questions and objections

• Invitations to strategic business discussions beyond technology

• Faster decision-making in technology initiatives

• More respect and support from peer executives

• Greater influence on organizational direction

• Less stress and more confidence in executive interactions

And they achieve all this while still managing their crushing operational workload.

6.0 Your Next Step

If you're ready to accelerate your executive presence as a technology leader, here's what I recommend:

1. Identify which of the five habitual patterns is most active in undermining your presence

2. Implement the 90-Second Presence Reset before your next three important meetings

3. After those meetings, note what was different about how you showed up and how others responded

This simple step will give you a taste of what's possible when you break free from reactive patterns and step into true executive presence.

Remember: Executive presence isn't about adding one more thing to your overflowing plate. It's about transforming how you show up with the incredible expertise you already have.

Here's to your leadership impact.