Stepping Into the Next Level: Building Executive Presence and Leadership Identity
Even high-performing leaders can reach a point where strong results are no longer enough to advance. As leaders prepare for C-suite roles, success depends not only on what they deliver, but how they show up, how they are perceived, and how effectively they communicate vision and influence others. At The Leadership Development Group (TLD Group), we support leaders in making this critical transition. Recently, TLD Group coach Allyson Saccomandi, M.Ed., SPHR, SHRM-CP partnered with a high-potential senior leader preparing to step into an executive role.
While already successful in a senior position, the leader faced challenges in building executive presence and redefining their leadership brand. They needed to be seen not just as a strong operator, but as a strategic decision-maker with a clear and compelling vision for the future.
Positioning for the Next Level of Leadership
The leader set out to achieve a clear goal: to be recognized as the executive in the room. This required strengthening confidence, refining communication, and establishing a more intentional leadership presence. At the same time, the leader sought to articulate a forward-looking vision for their function, aligned with broader organizational priorities.
A Data-Driven Coaching Approach Focused on What Matters Most
Allyson’s approach is grounded in data before dialogue, ensuring that coaching is both credible and targeted. The engagement began with gathering multi-source feedback from stakeholders, including managers, peers, and direct reports, to build a comprehensive understanding of how the leader was perceived.
This external perspective was paired with structured self-assessments to help the leader examine their own behaviors, tendencies, and leadership patterns. By comparing internal and external perspectives, Allyson helped identify key gaps and areas of alignment, creating a clear foundation for development.
Rather than focusing on a long list of goals, the work centered on identifying one or two high-impact shifts, what Allyson refers to as the “load-bearing wall.” These targeted changes were designed to unlock broader improvements across communication, presence, and influence.
Through ongoing coaching, the leader applied these insights in real-time, refining how they engaged with senior leadership and building a more intentional, confident approach to leadership.
Measurable Shifts in Leadership Effectiveness
Progress was tracked through clearly defined goals and observable behavioral changes. Improvements were reflected in stronger engagement and culture survey feedback, enhanced individual and team performance, and a reduction in employee relations issues.
These outcomes signaled a meaningful shift in how the leader was showing up, not only in their own performance, but in how their team experienced leadership, particularly in areas of trust, communication, and accountability.
Reflections on the Coaching Experience
In reflecting on the engagement, the leader shared:
“I came in as a high potential and a high performer, and honestly, I wasn’t sure how the coaching process could even help me. As we moved through the process, I realized it was the more strategic competencies that would make the real difference. When I began engaging with senior leadership differently, with more intention and more confidence, they began to respond to me differently too. They started seeing me as the future executive I was working to become.”
For Allyson, this work is especially meaningful. She values the opportunity to partner with leaders across industries and contexts, continuously learning from each engagement while helping leaders unlock the next level of their effectiveness.
Looking Ahead
Allyson is particularly focused on how leaders navigate the human side of AI and technology transformation. While organizations invest heavily in technical capabilities, she sees the greater opportunity in helping leaders guide their teams through change, addressing resistance, building trust, and maintaining connection in evolving environments.
At TLD Group, we support leaders in strengthening their presence, defining their leadership identity, and stepping confidently into the next level of impact. Reach out today if you are interested!