5 Tips for Looking More Confident

We don’t always feel confident, but in the world of business, it’s critical that we always look confident. It is said that we “exude” confidence – more simply, we show it.  There are The Presentation Clinic’s 5 Tips for Looking More Confident:

1. Volume – Confident people aren’t afraid to make their voices heard.  When meeting someone for the first time, make sure you’ve got your volume turned up, so that you project strength and confidence in your voice.  There’s no need to shout, but don’t be afraid to speak a little louder than you might do normally, especially if you consider yourself soft-spoken.
2. Energy – Confident people have energy.  Bags of it.  Think of the likes of Richard Branson and Oprah Winfrey.  They bristle with energy and appear full of life and, more importantly, full of possibility.  The last thing you want to appear when nervous is tired.  Have a cup of coffee before that all-important meeting, or take an energising walk around the block.  Ramp up your energy level and feel your confidence increase too.
3. Eye contact – Confident people make lots of eye contact.  They exude integrity and trustworthiness.  Ever noticed how someone who is lying or is incredibly anxious struggles to maintain eye contact with you?  Have the nerve to look someone straight in the eye and maintain as much eye contact as you can during your meeting.    Not only will this make you feel more confident but it will also help you build trust.
4. Warmth – Confident people are friendly.  They have a wide and genuine smile and their eyes sparkle.  It was Dale Carnegie who once said that “you have 5 seconds to make a good first impression.”  He believed the best way to take advantage of those few seconds was to smile.  There’s good science behind this too.  If we smile, we stretch our facial muscles, allowing a tense face to relax.  Be as friendly as you can possibly be and beam a winning smile to cover the nerves.
5. Preparation – Confident people are prepared.  As Benjamin Franklin once said: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”  Have your pitch, presentation or speech well-prepared.  Aim to practice until you are sick of doing so.  Knowing your script allows you to make more eye contact and project more confidence.

We call these our “keys to confidence” – and they are an integral part of the sales, presentation and public speaking training we offer in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.  For more details, take a look at our TRAINING tab.