Would you like to sound confident when talking to clients, managers, and coworkers – even if you don’t feel confident? Would you like other people to view you as knowledgeable, trustworthy, and authoritative? If so, author Jayson Demers suggests that you try these simple techniques:

  • Speak slowly – Speaking quickly can make you sound nervous, and you’ll be more likely to stumble over your words. In contrast, if you speak slowly, you’ll have time to choose your words carefully, and everything you say will sound more weighty and important.
  • Take pauses – When you pause while speaking, it gives you the chance to gather your thoughts and take a deep breath (if you’re feeling anxious). Pauses also make you sound relaxed and confident. They can be used to build suspense and emphasize a certain key point. And they give your listeners the chance to absorb and process what you’re saying.
  • Don’t go off on tangents – When you go off on a tangent, you run the risk of looking scattered, nervous, and disorganized. So don’t tell that adorable story about your cat unless it’s actually relevant. Stay focused on the topic at hand.
  • Lower your voice – People who speak with a low tone of voice tend to be viewed as more knowledgeable and trustworthy. So try to bump yours down just a bit. Don’t go too far, or you’ll probably sound weird. But if you go just a tiny bit lower than usual, it can have a positive effect.
  • Stand up straight – Posture is important! People will respect you more if you stand up straight with your shoulders back, your head held high, and your arms at your sides.
  • Gesture a lot – Don’t just wave your hands around. That would be strange. But you should use hand gestures to draw attention to what you’re saying and emphasize important points. It will help you to appear more confident and make your words seem more important.

It’s also a good idea to practice using these techniques. The more comfortable you become with them, the more effective they’ll be! Good luck!

 

Demers, J. (n.d.). The 7 best tricks to sounding confident (even when you’re not). The Muse. Retrieved from: https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-7-best-tricks-to-sounding-confident-even-when-youre-not