Project Confidence

1. Watch yourself rehearse on video.  Watching your performance is the easiest way to recognize room for improvement.  As you watch, look for moments that seem awkward or unconvincing. Notice if you break eye contact, and monitor the enthusiasm in your voice and body.  Try to remember what you were thinking or feeling during the weaker moments -- addressing any doubts or anxieties will help you move past them.

2. Speak from memory.  When you're presenting an idea, it's easy to lose your passion as you're plodding through the details.  To appear confident, pull yourself away from power point slides or notes.  The pitch needs to come from emotion.  That's what's most effective -- when people just speak from the heart.  Imagine you're at a party telling a friend what your company does and why it matters.  Show your conviction and belief in the product.  That emotional energy appears more confident and inspires others to believe in what you're doing.
3. Match your emotions and body language.  Movement is incredibly important, especially when it comes to convincing others of your confidence.  Physical movements that match your message hold others' attention more effectively and seem much more convincing.

4. As you present, engage your face, hands, and body to help you communicate a point.  If you are excited, you might walk around or make bigger gestures.  Or, if you are explaining a problem, your brow might be furrowed and your voice darker.  There should be a shift as you’re talking about different emotions.

5. Act without hesitation.  When you talk with others, appearing decisive is especially important.  Confidence is really expressed in A to B movements, meaning confident people show no hesitation between the decision to act and the action.  Doubt makes the movement less fluid and betrays a lack of confidence.

6. Practice acting in one fluid movement and catch yourself in moments of self-doubt or hesitation.  Ask, what is the worst that could happen if I just do this?  Or, what is it that makes me unsure?  Answering those questions will help you overcome your reservations.