Executive Presence Assessment — Manager Version
Rate this person across 21 quick items, about 10 minutes.
How this person comes across, on their own terms
Executive presence isn't about what someone is trying to accomplish — it's about how they land in the room while they're doing it. This assessment looks at three things: whether this person stays steady under pressure (Composure), whether they hold their own under scrutiny (Confidence), and whether their message actually lands (Clarity).
Rate each statement honestly, based on how this person actually behaves in real situations — not how you think they should.
1 = Lowest
·5 = Highest
I. Composure
Staying steady under pressure
Steadiness under stakes
This person stays calm and clear-headed when pressure or stakes are high
Managing emotion in the moment
This person notices their emotional reaction and regulates it before it drives their words or actions
Messaging for the receiver
This person adjusts how they say something based on who's hearing it
Handling questions from above
This person stays composed when challenged by senior leaders or the board
Handling questions across
This person stays composed when challenged by peers
Handling questions from below
This person stays composed when challenged by direct reports or junior staff
Self-awareness
This person accurately sees how their behavior lands on others
II. Confidence
Holding their own under scrutiny
Comfortable with authority
This person can converse easily with senior leaders without being intimidated
Unshaken by hard questions
Difficult or pointed questions don't throw this person off their footing
Assessing criticism logically
This person can objectively judge whether criticism is useful or just noise
Confidence in expertise
This person trusts their own knowledge and skill set in their area
Speaking up
This person voices their point of view even when it's not the popular one
Firm but not rigid
This person holds their position under pressure, but changes it when new data warrants it
Decisive action
This person makes timely decisions even with incomplete information
III. Clarity
Making the message land
States it simply
One or two clear sentences, no hedging
Stays consistent
Same story every time
Leads with the point
Point first, detail after
Stays consistent and on-message
Same core message, no drift
Distills complexity
Compresses big ideas into small ones
Lands with the audience
Shaped for who's listening
Confirms understanding
Checks it actually landed