Delivery Skills: How to Project Confidence and Credibility Every Time!

By Gail Zack Anderson, President of Applause, Inc.

Q: I have tried everything, but I still get nervous. What really helps?

A: Here is a three-point approach that helps you mentally and physically:

1. Change your thought process. If you are thinking, "I am nervous," change that thought to "I have all this POWER for my presentation." It's true, you do! Instead of thinking "I have to be perfect," think, "this material is really going to help the audience." Create an affirmation, and keep telling it to yourself. For example, "I am a confident speaker, and I really know my subject matter."
2. Prepare the right way. Most speakers plan their presentations on paper, but don't always take enough time to rehearse. Instead of rewriting your presentation, try saying it aloud 3-4 times. You might even ask a few people to listen to it and give you feedback. On the day of the presentation, arrive early and set everything up so you are free to move around the room, "meeting and greeting" your audience.
3.  Manage your breathing. Yes, breathing really will help you to relax your body and calm your mind. Keep inhaling and exhaling from your diaphragm, so that your shoulders and chest stay relaxed, but you are taking in the oxygen you need to clear your head.

Q: How can I project more confidence in my voice?

A: Always remember to breathe to help relax your voice. Don't just take big breath and hold it, but continue to breathe in and out calmly. Think about putting a smile in your voice, especially at the beginning, when you might be feeling nervous. If you speak too quickly, train yourself to not rush, to pause a little longer, without saying "um" all the time. When you rush, your enunciation slips and you nervous. End each sentence with a firm downward note, not a questioning sound. Also avoid too many qualifiers including words like "hopefully," "kind of," "sort of," "a little," "maybe," and "just." If you tend to speak softly, open your mouth wider, enunciate clearly and breathe as you speak.

Q: What do I do with my hands when I speak?

A: Whatever you do, don't clasp them tightly together, or fidget with them. Train yourself instead to let your hands rest at your sides or at your waist. Relax your shoulders and let your elbows move away from your body, so that your gestures look relaxed and open. Strive for a combination of strong, meaningful gestures contrasted with neutral (relaxed) arms and hands. You can practice gesturing in front of a mirror, or on videotape, so you can see how it really looks.

Q: I have enough on my mind already-does eye contact really matter?

A: Eye contact is one of the most important skills to master, if you want to come across as confident and personable. Start by watching others. Some people dart around the room, some people look at their slides or the ceiling, and some people look at the tables in front of their audience. Confident speakers look right at the people they are speaking to, deliberately and smoothly. Practice making eye contact for three to five seconds per person, long enough to really connect with them, but not long enough to get "stuck" or make them feel uncomfortable. Think of sending your energy and your words out to your audience members, one at a time. Don't forget to connect with everyone-those in the front, the back and the sides of the room. A great way to practice eye contact is to practice your presentation in a meeting room, looking at all the chairs, one at a time, for three to five seconds each.

It takes time and practice to learn any new set of skills, and learning how to present successfully is no exception. It also takes lots of patience when you make a mistake or things don't go as you had planned. But the good news is this: the more you practice these techniques the easier they will become, and the sooner you will be speaking with confidence and credibility.

Learn more about Gail Zack Anderson and Applause in our Contributors area.