Hi Reader!

I hope your 4th was as fabulous and fantastic as you are!

Now that the festivities are in the rearview, it's time to get crackin' on what you told me is your biggest growth opportunity and need...principles, perspectives and practical tools to grow your executive presence. So you can speak, show up and been seen as the incredible, respected leader you are.

Remember the June poll? I asked our community about your greatest challenges and opportunities. The most popular choice (by a lot) was this:

I'm capable and respected, but I'm not always seen as the leader I know I am.
I know I need to cultivate higher level executive presence.

I totally get it. I've felt it. And I've seen it. A lot.

Your answer makes me think of Stacy, a leader I coached last year. See if her story sounds familiar.

Stacy was the most prepared person in the room. She always is. She does the work like a boss. And when she does the work, the work turns out excellent. Awesome is Stacy's only gear.

Every time she walked into a room, she had the numbers cold. She had every objection mapped. She nailed it.

And when the meeting ended, the senior leader turned to the man who had spoken twice and said “great thinking in there, let’s get you in front of the board.”

She did the work. He got the opportunity.

If that sting is familiar, you already know something important. This isn't about competence. You are great at your job. Everyone knows you're great at your job. And somehow that has not translated into being seen as the leader you already are.

That gap has a name. I call it the presence gap.

Here's the part that matters. It's not a character flaw and it's not permanent.

Which also means the usual fix, working harder and being even more prepared, will not close it. You cannot out-prepare a perception problem. And truly, isn't that good news??? I have a feeling there's not a lot harder you could work. Thankfully, that's not the answer.

This week, I published a new article on LinkedIn. It lays out the issue of the presence gap for women as well as a roadmap to fill it.

Hop over to LinkedIn and check it out for yourself. Be sure to give me a follow so you don't miss the cool stuff I'm sharing over there.

And if you want to jump right to the "what's a sister to do??" stuff, I made you a cheat sheet to start closing it on purpose.

It's called the Executive Presence Cheat Sheet. One quick guide that shows you exactly where presence actually comes from, and where to stop wasting your energy. Grab it here.

Know another woman who's not been seen for the authentic, credible leader she is? Why not forward this email along to her?

Then just notice. The next time you are in a room that matters, watch for the gap between how capable you are and how clearly the room can tell.

Naming it is where it starts.

More to come on exec presence, Reader. Let's link arms and fill that gap.

Always in your corner, ❤️

P.S. Grab the Executive Presence Cheat Sheet and start showing up and being seen as the capable, impactful leader you are.