Jack Palance once said in a Skin Bracer commercial, “Confidence is very sexy, don’t you think?”
Yes, indeed it is … but it is also one of the public speaking superpowers that can help you be a better presenter.
The funny thing with confidence is … at least in the realm of public speaking … that you don’t need it to get started, but it helps, and the more you succeed, the more your confidence grows.
You see confidence feeds on itself, growing in power the more you flex the confidence muscle.
That’s why the when it comes to confidence, you often have to “fake it until you make it.”
Another thing about confidence is that people often think it is about belief in oneself … and it isn’t. Confidence is acceptance of the many consequences of a situation. Confident people weather storms with grace because they know in their core that everything works out for the best.
Confident speakers
- Know their topic.
- Know how to gracefully handle technical difficulties.
- Are comfortable disarming hecklers.
- Are comfortable in their own skin.
No two confident spaners look alike, sound alike or even handle situations alike … because confident speakers are always authentic to themselves and their message.
So, when you want to build your confidence, start first with and understanding of who you are, what your message is and how those two work together.
