Just like there are people who are naturally gifted at public speaking and meeting new people, there are others who are unable to sound confident while trying to address wallpaper, let alone other human beings other. The reasons for shyness vary from social influences like being talked at by others in the past, personal fears of being misinterpreted, and all the way to genetic predispositions. As the matter of fact, some research indicates that there around 20 percent of people in the world with a genetic predisposition to be shy.
No matter the reason, there are techniques that can help people overcome their issues and sound more confident while speaking.
Speak slowly
Speaking too fast displays nervousness, and shows that the speaker is not totally confident in what he or she is saying. Make pauses, speaks slowly, and emphasize words. This will give away an impression of self-confidence, knowledge, and experience. If you just burst your words out, the listeners will both have a problem understanding you, and doubt the credibility of your statement.
Control your posture
Our body speaks more than we think. Make sure to keep eye contact while speaking, turning away from people means you have something to hide or aren’t sure of what you’re talking about. Don’t wiggle your hands around too much, and only use them to emphasize or help people visualize your ideas.
Smile
There is a saying that a smile is contagious. It makes you seem more approachable and confident to those who listen to you, while at the same time you transfer positive emotions to your audience. However, don’t overdo it; otherwise, you will seem awkward which is counterproductive.
Practice
This piece of advice works universally, not only when you’re overcoming an insecurity. Before you head out to that job interview, business meeting, or presentation take some time to practice what you’re going to say and how you’re going to act during the talk. You could even throw in a few speed bumps, such as having a friend act like your listener who interrupts you or asks for additional info, etc.
Relax
Don’t think that people who listen to you just wait for you to make a mistake so they can taunt you. Remember to breathe slowly, and keep in mind that as long as you’re calm you will be in control of each word that you say. Even if you say something wrong, there’s a huge chance that nobody will notice, especially if the speaker goes on for a while.
You can use these tips whenever you want to make people listen to you. You can combine several tips and master the ability to sound confident. In time, with enough practice, you will learn to use these techniques without a problem.
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Author bio: Thomas Lovecraft runs a small business in California. He likes Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain. He is an ornithology lover and an amateur songwriter; he is also a content strategist at BestDissertation.com. Follow him on Twitter.
