Credibility gets you noticed. Presence gets you promoted.
Welcome to The Leadership Edge, the space where ambitious professionals learn to step beyond performance and into impactful leadership.
In this week’s newsletter:
You’ve worked hard to build credibility. It’s what earned you recognition and opportunities. But the higher you aim, the less it’s about what you know and the more about how you show up.
This first issue is about the missing ingredient in so many careers: executive presence. Because presence is what transforms credibility into promotion.
When credibility isn’t enough
You’ve done everything right. You’ve hit your targets, delivered projects on time, built trust as the expert everyone turns to.
And yet… when leadership roles are discussed, your name isn’t the one that comes up. Someone else gets the nod, someone who may not work as hard, but somehow looks the part.
It feels frustrating. Even unfair. After all, you’ve earned your place through results. So why isn’t that enough?
In one recent study, executive presence accounted for ~26% of what determined promotion decisions — over a quarter of the impact. So while your track record (credibility) is critical, it isn’t enough on its own. Executive presence matters.
Credibility opens doors, presence keeps them open
What I’ve seen time and again is that being the most credible person in the room doesn’t guarantee you’ll be seen as a leader. Organisations look for something more — a quality that signals readiness, confidence, and influence.
Think back to the last time you saw someone promoted ahead of you, or ahead of a colleague you knew was more capable. Chances are, it wasn’t just about performance. It was about how that person showed up. Presence often outweighs pure delivery.
One of my clients experienced this first-hand. He was the most credible person in his division and his track record spoke for itself. But he kept being passed over for promotion. The turning point came when he realised it wasn’t just about what he delivered, but how he showed up.
If you stick to credibility alone, you risk being seen as the dependable doer rather than the strategic leader. But combine both, and you become unstoppable.
3 shifts to build executive presence
The good news is executive presence isn’t a mysterious quality you’re either born with or not. It’s a skill you can develop. These three shifts will help you get started:
From proving your expertise → to shaping the conversation
When you focus on showcasing what you know, you stay in the role of the expert.
Presence comes from influence: guiding how others think, framing the discussion, and steering the room towards outcomes. It’s less about having every answer and more about being the voice that sets direction.
From reporting tasks → to communicating impact
Doers say what they did. Leaders explain why it mattered.
Instead of “I delivered the project on time” say “This project improved client retention by 15%.” Presence is built when you link your work to bigger organisational outcomes.
From reacting fast → to responding with composure
When pressured, doers rush to answer.
Leaders pause, consider, and respond with calm authority. Next time you’re asked a tough question, take a breath before you answer. That short pause signals confidence and control.
Credibility shows you can perform. Presence shows you’re ready for more. Together, they make you impossible to overlook.
ICYMI
Check out my latest LinkedIn post on: Influencing senior stakeholders
Listen in: My conversation on the One Handshake Podcast is a down-to-earth reflection on career pivots, leadership, and why redefining success can change everything.
Leadership isn’t built overnight. It’s built in the choices you make every day.
Each week, The Leadership Edge brings you one step closer to leading with influence, presence, and impact. Keep leaning into the edge, that’s where growth happens.
See you in the next edition,
Tania Carvalho
Founder & Executive Coach