Why How You Show Up Matters More Than What You Know
- Feb 11
- 3 min read
Written by Ewa J. Kleczyk, PhD, Bestseller Author
Dr. Ewa J. Kleczyk is a nationally recognized, award-winning healthcare research executive, author of Empowered Leadership: Breaking Barriers, Building Impact, and Leaving a Legacy, and Editor-in-Chief of UJWEL. She is a frequent speaker, board leader, and advocate for healthcare innovation and community empowerment.
We often overestimate how much executive presence is about what we know and underestimate how much it is about how we show up. In reality, executive presence is roughly 20% knowledge and 80% presence, energy, clarity, confidence, and the way we carry ourselves into a room, a conversation, or a moment that matters.
Knowledge is essential. Expertise creates credibility. Preparation matters. But knowledge alone rarely moves people. Presence does.
Executive presence is not perfection
Executive presence is not about having all the answers. It is not about flawless delivery or never feeling doubt. It is about being grounded enough to show up fully, even when things are imperfect.
You build that presence through practice and learning. You sharpen your skills, deepen your understanding, and prepare thoughtfully. But there comes a point where preparation must give way to trust.
Practice. Learn. And then trust yourself.
Trust that you have done the work. Trust that your experience will carry you. Trust that you are capable, even if you do not feel 100% ready.
Rest is part of readiness
One of the most overlooked elements of executive presence is rest.
Clarity does not come from exhaustion. Confidence does not come from burnout. When we are depleted, we second-guess ourselves, rush our words, and disconnect from our own instincts.
Rest is not a reward after the work is done. It is part of the work.
When you allow yourself space to pause, reset, and breathe, you show up clearer, steadier, and more intentional. That clarity translates directly into how others experience you.
Get clear, then go do the show
Before stepping into any high-stakes moment, whether it is a boardroom, a keynote, a difficult conversation, or a new role, get clear:
What is my intention?
What truly matters here?
What do I want people to feel, not just hear?
Once you have clarity, go do the show.
Not as a performance, but as an expression of who you are. Presence is not about pretending. It is about alignment. When your values, message, and energy are aligned, people feel it.
Be kind to yourself in the process
Perhaps the most important, and hardest, part of showing up powerfully is self-kindness.
We are often far more compassionate with others than we are with ourselves. We offer grace, patience, and encouragement outward, while holding ourselves to unrealistic standards internally.
Executive presence grows when we extend the same kindness inward. If you stumble, allow it. If you feel nervous, acknowledge it. If a moment does not go as planned, learn from it, but do not let it define you.
The leaders who show up most powerfully are not the ones who never struggle. They are the ones who keep showing up, with self-respect and self-trust intact.
Showing up is a practice
Executive presence is not a fixed trait. It is a practice.
Each time you show up with intention, clarity, and kindness toward yourself, you strengthen it. Each time you rest when needed, trust your preparation, and lead with authenticity, you reinforce it.
Remember:
20% is what you know
80% is how you show up
And how you show up begins with how you treat yourself. Be prepared. Be present. Be kind. And show up anyway.
A final reflection and an invitation
If this resonates, these ideas are explored more deeply in my book, Empowered Leadership. The book is rooted in this same belief: leadership is not about perfection or position, but about presence, clarity, and the courage to show up as yourself, especially when it matters most.
Empowered Leadership is for leaders who are ready to trust their voice, lead with intention, and build confidence from the inside out. Learn more and get your copy here.
Read more from Ewa J. Kleczyk, PhD
Ewa J. Kleczyk, PhD, Bestseller Author
Dr. Ewa J. Kleczyk is a leader in healthcare research, leadership, and community impact. With over two decades of experience, she has transformed healthcare innovation and data-driven strategies while championing education and equity. She has dedicated her career to empowering leaders, advancing women in healthcare, and helping organizations create lasting impact. She is the author of Empowered Leadership: Breaking Barriers, Building Impact, and Leaving a Legacy and Editor-in-Chief of UJWEL. Her mission, break barriers, build impact, leave a legacy.
