How to Talk With Confidence

Learning how to talk with confidence is great for business, public speaking and even in your social life.

Spend some time practicing confident speaking and you will even feel more confident about yourself in general.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Keep the pace of your words moderate. It is hard to understand people who talk too fast. Confident speakers talk slowly, but not to the point of being a bore.

2. Spend some time enhancing your vocabulary. Being redundant can make your presentation dull, and make you appear unintelligent. Also, with a large repertoire or words at your command you will appear as an authority.

3. Speak from your diaphragm. This gives your voice resonance and projection.

4. Use open hand gestures with your palm facing up. This says "Hey! I have nothing to hide, I'm speaking the truth!"
   
   Do not overdo it or you may distract your audience.

5. Make eye contact with your audience.

6. "Uh...", "You know?", "Right?"
   
   Kill these words/phrases! Using these will make you seem unprofessional and un-confident.

7. Stand straight, keep your hands out of your pockets and do not forget to smile!

Tips & Warnings

• To add emphasis on a point, make a slight pause before continuing.
• Always be attentive. Unless you are making a speech, you should be open to other putting in their opinion.
• Do not cut others off.
• Do not look at your feet.
• Chew gum in the car or at home; not while trying to make a point.

[bakerthebrand]

on 6/11/2009 Nice post. Keep up the good writing.

[carby]

on 4/4/2009 very good advice on taking with confidence. 5*

[HowDragon]

on 3/22/2009 Nice article. All great tips for talking with confidence. 5*!