The_Essential_Manager_s_Handbook

338 / TAKING CENTER STAGE

Looking confident

Growing self-belief

Inner confidence comes from a

combination of self-belief and real

enthusiasm for your message. When

you are confident, you behave naturally,

and in the full expectation of a positive

outcome; your self-assurance is genuine

and the audience buys into your message.

You can build your confidence over

time through exercises in which you

visualize success and, of course, through

experience. Looking confident and

feeling confident may seem two very

different things to you, but to your

audience, they are one and the same.

Employing techniques that make you

appear more confident will bring positive

feedback from your audience, which

will boost inner confidence.

The audience is on your side—they want you to succeed; they want

to learn and be inspired by you. But to win their attention and trust,

and to exert your influence, you need to impose your presence and

demonstrate confidence in yourself and in your presentation material.

ACCENTUATE THE

POSITIVE

Refrain from crossing your

arms or leaning backward,

away from the audience;

these actions send out very

strong negative signals.

Tip

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