How to Be More Confident in 10 Seconds
Bringing you Tip #34 from 100 Tips & Tricks to Appear Confident in Presentations
Below are five steps you can take in the 10 seconds before you open your mouth to speak. Steps 1–3 can be done while walking up to speak, or in combination with steps 4 and 5:
1. Breathe. Take a deep, calming breath. Remember, your brain needs oxygen!
2. Stand tall. Good posture not only helps with your breath support while you speak, it also makes you look more confident. I use a “string theory” to quickly improve my posture right before I speak. I imagine a string being pulled from the ceiling that connects the top of my head to my chest to my pelvis. Try it right now! It even works when you are sitting.
3. Mentally rehearse your opening sentence or two. Your opening should be ready to charge out of the gate with power.
4. Eye contact. Look at your audience for a second or two, with the attitude of “this is a gift I’m giving to you” and a pleasant expression. Connect with their eyes. A confident speaker looks into the eyes of his or her audience.
5. Smile. As you continue for a couple more seconds with eye contact and before you speak, turn your pleasant expression into a broad, warm smile, the genuine kind that crinkles your eyes. A smile is a magnet to your audience.
And then, deliver your opening lines with confidence!
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