How to speak with confidence and authority

Knowing how to speak with confidence and authority can be a game-changer.

It’s the difference between winning the business.

Or walking away empty-handed.

The difference between a standing ovation. 

Or a muted smattering of applause.

We go in-depth on all of this in our communication skills courses.

In the meantime, here are three steps to get you started.

1. Controlling your pace and pauses

The world’s best public speakers do this.

Sharp sentences. Short pauses.

Letting the words hang in the air.

Every sentence counts.

Rather than what nervous speakers do, which is to start talking, and keep talking, and they’re unsure where to stop, and suddenly a single sentence has gone on for 30 seconds, and now they’re stumbling all over the place.

Just watch how good Steve Jobs’ pace and pausing is in that 2007 clip.

That’s what you’re aiming for.

Simple words. Succinct sentences.

And short pauses between them all.

2. Learn how to project your voice

There’s a difference between speaking loudly and speaking with confidence.

There’s a reason ‘loudmouth’ is used as an insult. 

You’ve got to learn how to use your diaphragm.

It’s a muscle that sits under the ribcage.

You use it every time you laugh.

Want to find it? Put your hand on your stomach, and say: “Ha ha ha!”

Feel that tension in your abdomen? That’s your diaphragm contracting.

And it’s what helps you push the air out to project.

This is something which needs practice.

But, once mastered, it’ll help you sound confident without yelling.

3. Master hand movements

Using your hands is often the last thing a speaker considers.

And so, without that thought, they end up hanging listlessly by their side.

They go into trouser pockets. They go behind the back.

We need to use our hands with purpose.

The image above is a good example of what we encourage.

It’s called Speaker’s Stance.

Your hands start centrally in a soft hold.

Then, when you begin to deliver your presentation, they move. They gesticulate.

Make sure your hands avoid simply repeating the same gesture, though.

Use your hands to show the audience where you’ve been. 

Demonstrate where you’re going.

Let them do what they want to do. Each time, they’ll come back to that central position.

It’s vital our body language matches the words we’re using.

Mastering your hand movements is the first way to do that.

How to speak with confidence and authority

There’s a lot more that goes into how to speak with confidence and authority than just three steps.

In fact, there’s the most important step of them all: practice.

Practice, practice, practice.

If you want to learn how to get really good at this, our Presentation Masterclass is for you.

We cover everything from powerful phrases to perfect performance.

It’s designed with one goal in mind.

To build your confidence in how you present. 

Colin Stone is Communications Lead at Pink Elephant.

You can read more about him here.

How to speak with confidence and authority blog written by Colin Stone.
How to speak with confidence and authority blog edited by Andrew McFarlan.
All photos in How to speak with confidence and authority blog by Pink Elephant.