Speak Confidently, Useful Tips
Speaking confidently will lead others to have more confidence in us and to see us as intelligent people, especially if it is a public speech. Knowing how to speak confidently , therefore, could allow us to achieve success, especially on a professional level.
What must be done, however, to make this security one’s own? What can we do to win the trust of others? Below we share with you a number of key points that will help you speak confidently. One thing is certain, you need to practice a lot.
6 ways to speak confidently
1. Present your views with conviction
Before we speak, we must be sure that we believe what we are saying. Only in this way will we transmit our conviction and will so that others can participate in our ideas. However, it is critically important not to be arrogant when we do this. We do not have to show an attitude that reveals a need for approval or validation, but to show that we are convinced.
2. The importance of eye contact
Eye contact is, first of all, a sign of good manners towards others. On the other hand, it will induce the audience to listen more carefully to what we say and to immerse themselves in our speech.
We will also be able to express our message more clearly and increase the confidence we have in ourselves. Looking at the ground, at the ceiling or at anyone in particular will make us feel more insecure and whoever listens to us will understand.
This, however, does not mean that we should only focus on one person since, in addition to making them uncomfortable, we will get distracted. A good method can be to look at a different person every three seconds, looking in the eye.
We shouldn’t worry if we notice that someone in our audience is confused or worried. This could in fact weaken our self-confidence. Finally, if we are speaking to a large audience, the ideal is to direct our gaze to only one group of people in the audience.
3. Recognize your own worth
In addition to showing others that we trust ourselves, speaking with confidence stems from a deep love for ourselves. For this, it will be essential to know our virtues. However, we must be careful. Vanity and arrogance will row against us.
One way to increase our self-confidence can be to praise ourselves every day. In this way, self-confidence can be transmitted in our speeches and will be easily perceived by others. Focus on what you are good at or what you value most about yourself. Praise yourselves without thinking about your faults.
4. Visualize success
As you write, plan, and rehearse your speech, visualize success. Imagine speaking with a confident voice in front of an audience that listens to you intently. Think about the applause and avoid imagining possible problems or thinking about what could go wrong.
This does not mean that you are not aware of possible unexpected events or that you will do nothing to avoid them. The point is, worrying too much about these issues will cause you to lose confidence in yourself and reduce your ability to speak confidently.
5. Plan the speech properly
One of the most important things when speaking in public is planning what we have to say properly. We need to have a pattern that we know well and that we have tried several times. We must be able to have clear and simple ideas.
It will also be important to interact with the audience and pay attention to body language. In this way, the viewer will see us as an active and motivated person by what he says instead of perceiving a flat and boring voice.
In addition, it will be important to know the place where we will deliver our speech. Planning for possible unexpected events and counting on the help of the surrounding environment will increase the confidence we have in ourselves and the reception of what we will say. Let’s not forget to arrive on time so that the rush doesn’t make us nervous anymore.
6. Know your audience
Finally, knowing the people you will be directing to can help you a lot when it comes to processing your speech and speaking confidently. It will be important to know where they come from, what age they are and their level of knowledge on the subject. In this way, you will be able to adapt your speech to the audience so that they can better receive your message.
