Confidence, public speaking and executive presence are often seen as skills that matter when someone must give a big presentation or step onto a stage. But their impact in the workplace goes much further – they influence how we communicate our ideas, contribute to meetings, navigate challenging conversations, build relationships and show up as leaders. In this Q&A, Aliya explores why these skills matter, the difference they can make to individuals and teams, and why they’re worth developing.

Q: Can someone be very good at their job but still lack confidence?

Absolutely. Competence and confidence aren’t the same thing. Someone can have years of experience and excellent technical knowledge, yet still second-guess themselves, hold back in meetings or feel uncomfortable communicating their ideas in front of others.

Often, the next stage of someone’s development isn’t about gaining more technical knowledge –  it’s about having the confidence to communicate the knowledge they already have.

Q: Isn’t confidence something you either have or you don’t?
 No, not at all. Confidence is a skill and can be developed.

It grows through experience, self-awareness, practical tools and repeatedly putting ourselves in situations that stretch us. This is why creating opportunities for people to practise speaking, presenting and communicating in a supportive environment can be so valuable.

Q: What does executive presence actually mean?

Executive presence is less about a particular personality type and more about how someone shows up.

Can you communicate your ideas clearly? Do you remain composed under pressure? Can you command attention without dominating the room? Do others trust what you’re saying?

And importantly, being confident or having an executive presence doesn’t have to mean becoming louder or more extroverted. It’s about developing a way of communicating that feels authentic while creating impact.

Q: Why do some people struggle to speak up in meetings, even when they have something valuable to say?

There can be lots of reasons – fear of being judged, overthinking, imposter syndrome, worrying about saying the “wrong” thing or simply not feeling comfortable taking up space.

The interesting thing is that these behaviours can change. With greater awareness and practice, people can learn to contribute without needing to wait until they feel 100% confident first.

Q: Is public speaking relevant to everyone?

People often think that public speaking is just standing on a stage in front of a big audience, but it’s so much more than that. It’s presenting an idea to your team, leading a meeting, speaking to senior stakeholders, pitching to a client, introducing yourself at an event, answering an unexpected question confidently.

For many professionals, the ability to communicate in front of others becomes increasingly important as their career progresses.

Q: What happens when people become more confident communicators?

It’s really lovely to see. You often start to see changes beyond their presentation skills. They contribute more, articulate their ideas more clearly. They’re more comfortable being visible, they handle challenging conversations differently.  You can see a physical shift too – they also start to carry themselves differently as their confidence grows.

That’s one of the reasons I love working in this space – developing how someone communicates can have an impact far beyond the moment they stand up to speak.