Confidence is gained by having positive experiences, because positive experiences provide hard evidence that you can in fact do what you’d felt you couldn’t do. When your belief system changes your outcomes change. But you can’t gain these positive experiences without putting yourself out there. This means you need to pluck up your courage, make that vital decision and grab presenting opportunities that come your way.
Once you have a good grasp of the techniques I shall show you, start with small groups, practising on one or two friends if you like – people who you know are on your side. But do it! When friends or colleagues respond positively, your confidence will grow. Ask for feedback, what worked and what didn’t work for them. If they are critical, remember that they are criticising your technique, not you as a person. Then try again. The more you keep at it the more you’ll improve and the easier it will seem. When you feel ready, grab those presenting opportunities at work.
As confidence grows, you can challenge yourself to get better – try new things! Watch other presenters critically, identifying the things you liked and things you didn’t – what was convincing and whether or not you trust this person enough to buy from them. As your skills build and your confidence increases, so will your self-belief. When you stand up to deliver a presentation with no doubt about your ability to be compelling, your audience will feel the same.
In some, this happens quickly, in others it takes a little longer. But through patience, practice and perseverance you will get it right. It is important to understand that one’s initial botched attempts are completely normal and nothing to be ashamed of. It doesn’t mean you are a failure; it just means you still have to hone your skills. Many of today’s best speakers progressed slowly at first, but through perseverance and experience achieved increasing degrees of competence. The tragedy is that so many give up without giving themselves a sporting chance.
Paul du Toit is the author of “Even You Can Present with Confidence” (Congruence Publishing 2008).
