5 Ways to Project Confidence in Front of an Audience

You might have a great idea or results to share, but if you don’t deliver your message with confidence, it will fall on deaf ears. Here are five tips to look and sound like a leader people will want to follow. Dress 25% better than anyone else in the room. Your clothes need to be appropriate for the situation, but aim to be slightly more polished. Pace your speech. Speaking too fast will harm your credibility. Use simple words. Long, convoluted sentences and jargon don’t make you sound smart at all — just the opposite. You gain credibility and respect when you’re able to articulate complex ideas in simple language. Before an important presentation, consider gathering a few people to watch a dress rehearsal, even if it’s in your office or even your living room, rather than practicing alone in a mirror. Simulating even low levels of stress will keep you from cracking under pressure when delivering the real deal. And lastly, maintain an open posture. Don’t keep your hands in your pockets or by your side. Use hand gestures that are natural and authentic.