Executive Presence Checklist | What to Do Every Time You Speak

3 Jun 2026 · 3 min

Watch on YouTube

2:40

TJ Walker shares an eight-point checklist to use before you speak: define your main message, decide what you want the audience to do, structure three key points, open with something that grabs attention, use direct language, control your pace and pauses, pause before answering questions, and end with a clear call to action. Even partial use improves how you come across.

Chapters

Ultimize. At this point, you've learned a set of skills that can completely change how you communicate. But knowledge alone is not enough. What matters is whether you apply these ideas consistently. That's where a simple checklist becomes powerful. Before you speak, you should be able to run through a short set of questions in your mind. Those questions keep you focused, and prevent old habits from returning. Start with your message. What is my main point? If you can't answer that clearly, nothing else is really gonna work. Then ask, what is the outcome I want? What should the audience think, decide, or do after I finish talking? Next, check your structure. Do I have 2 or 3 clear supporting points? Can I deliver them in a logical order? If your structure is unclear, your message will feel muddled, scattered. Then think about your opening. Am I getting to the point immediately, or am I delaying with unnecessary background, boring, tedious stuff? Your first sentence should create clarity, not confusion. It should get the attention of your audience. After that, Consider your language. Am I using weak phrases that reduce my impact? Can I say this more directly? Removing even one weak phrase can make a noticeable difference. Then check your delivery. Am I speaking at a steady pace? Am I allowing brief pauses between ideas? Am I finishing my sentences with intention? These small details shape how your message is perceived. Next, think about questions. If someone asks me something, will I pause, decide, and answer clearly, or will I start to speak before I know what I want to say? Preparing for this in advance improves your performance in the moment. Finally, think about your close. What's the decision or action I want to drive? How will I state that clearly at the end? This ensures your message leads somewhere. You don't need to run through this checklist perfectly every time, but even using part of it will improve your communication. Over time, these steps become automatic. You'll think more clearly before you speak, you'll structure your ideas naturally, and you'll sound more confident without forcing it. That's when executive presence becomes part of how you communicate every day.