Early in life, we start to hear people tell us that we need to communicate with confidence.  Sounds simple enough, but if it’s that simple, why does it remain a stumbling block for so many of us?  It requires a whole lot more than reminders or criticism.

Having confidence is not something we forget to do; it’s something most of us have never been taught to do.

It’s similar to the situation I find myself in when I’m playing golf. I’m frequently told to hit the ball further, and it’s something I’d sure love to do, but being told this has never helped me hit that ball even one inch further. To master the game of golf, or any activity that requires skill, you need a process, and to master the process, you need practice.

I truly believe communicating with confidence can be mastered by anyone, but it requires a series of process behaviors to do it.  For the sake of this particular BLArticle®, I’ll focus on just five behaviors that don’t require you to even open your mouth.

Maintain Good Posture.  Stand or sit upright, keep your shoulders back, and avoid slouching. A strong posture conveys self-assurance.  Good posture is something just about anyone can display… as long he or she remembers.  Try lightly writing the letter “P” on the top of the document you plan on using to speak, or take notes with. Each time you take a quick look at those notes you’ll get a gentle reminder.

Make Good Eye Contact.  Look at those you are speaking to, but don’t stare. Consistent eye contact demonstrates attentiveness and confidence, but too much eye contact can be intimidating.  If you maintain a goal of eye contact about 50-70% of the time, you should be fine.

Display Active Listening.  Pay attention when others speak, and that means no interrupting those who are speaking with you! That also means really concentrating on the content of those you are listening to rather than being distracted by focusing on what you are about to say when he or she is finished speaking.  When it is your turn to engage, ask deeper questions to show you value their input and keep the conversation engaging.

Display Positive Body Language.  Smile when appropriate, use open gestures, and avoid crossing your arms, which might appear defensive to others. Watch your hands.  You can use them for expressing yourself, but make sure those hands aren’t giving you away. When you fidget with your hands, you’re letting people know you’re anxious. For those who struggle with this when communicating to groups, try keeping one hand in your pocket, and if it’s available, trying sitting on the side of a desk.

Prepare Ahead of Time.  With the information that’s available from a quick Google search, there’s no excuse showing up unprepared, so do your homework.  If you’re presenting information, organize your thoughts and prepare. Preparation is one of the single most effective tools to boost confidence.

Confidence is difficult enough to develop, and it can feel daunting in the face of uncertainty or setbacks.  But fear not, because as you can see, there are a number of moves that can be made that don’t require you to obsess on what to say.  I’ve delivered this message for years: “The more others talk, the more they believe you.”  Now, let’s add another sentence that reflects the tips I’ve just given you: “The less you speak, the more confident you will appear.”  Confidence maybe something that some of us are born with, but that doesn’t mean we can’t all acquire it.  The good news is, in many instances, to be perceived as confident, you never have to say a word.

You don’t have to be a professional speaker to…

Speak Like A Pro!

– Maybe you’re a corporate trainer who wants to sharpen your skills.
– Maybe you’re a corporate officer who wants to inspire those around you.
– Maybe you just want to get over your fear of speaking, and add, “Dominate a speaking opportunity” to your bucket list!

Our previous program sold-out, but we’re going to be putting another one up on the calendar soon.  In it, I will be delivering a series of three, virtual workshops designed to help you Speak Like A Pro!   In this program, I will be covering the following:

1. Workshop 1: The Nuts & Bolts of Delivery. There are a lot of people who speak, but professional speakers are in a class by themselves.  When a professional speaker gives presentations, the expectations of the audience are sky-high.  The presentation can’t just be good; it has to be amazing.  Where, exactly, do we learn how to be amazing?  In this half-day workshop, we’ll learn a variety of techniques applicable to both keynote deliveries and workshop deliveries to make your presentations great!
2. Workshop 2: Applying “Sauce” to your Deliveries. Giving a professional presentation is like cooking a meal.  No matter how well you cook any dish, the sauce is what ultimately provides the flavor and enhances the experience.  In fact, it’s the sauce that elevates the dish from a meal to a memory.  In this half-day workshop, we’ll put away the cooking aprons, and look at ways to spice up the presentations you deliver!
3. Workshop 3: Presentation Delivery, Feedback, & Coaching.  This personal coaching session will be designed by the participants.  Topics can include, but are not limited to:

• Film study breaking down existing delivery footage.
• Workshop adjustment, creation & brainstorming.
• Keynote adjustment, creation & brainstorming.
• Book marketing on a budget.
• Flushing out business ideas.
• Business consulting.

Seasoned veteran?  I don’t need to tell you there’s always more to learn. Novice? I’m ready for you too!

For program dates, a full agenda of each session, and pricing options, reach out to training@jolles.com

If you follow me on LinkedIn, and I sure hope you do, https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-jolles-8a459b12/  I recently started a newsletter!  It’s called, “When Every Word Matters,” a biweekly dose of tips, tactics, and techniques to boost your communication game!

What do you get when combine energy, enthusiasm… and great content?  You get a “Pocket Sized Pep Talk,” and there are now over 275 of them!  Tune in and you’ll hear a collection of conversations, interviews, and even some BLArticles® that are sure to teach, motivate, inspire, and oh yes; entertain!  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pocket-sized-pep-talks/id1497772972