Tips for Confident Speaking

Summary

The speaker, an experienced coach, shared five actionable tips on how to project confidence while speaking, even when not feeling confident internally.
Key techniques covered included vocal and physical delivery, purposeful rehearsal, and a mindset shift using a personal "silent sentence."
Emphasis was placed on practice, audience empathy, and replacing negative self-talk with purpose-driven intentions.
The talk wrapped with encouragement to prioritize audience comfort and to enjoy the growth that comes from stepping outside one’s comfort zone.

(No specific action items or owners were mentioned in this transcript.)

Illustrating with two "captain" introductions, the difference in confidence was highlighted as a combination of energy, body language, and vocal choices—not inner certainty.
Tip 1: Turn up the energy and speak up. Aim for a moderate but noticeable increase in volume and presence (a "five out of ten" on an energy scale).
Tip 2: Pause strategically. Use intentional, well-placed pauses for emphasis and transitions ("pause like a boss") rather than rushing or filling gaps with filler words.
Tip 3: Adopt a superhero stance. Use confident body language—strong posture, open gestures, eye contact, and a genuine smile—to project confidence ("make the shape" of a confident person).
Tip 4: Practice with purpose. Schedule rehearsals, layer in one new technique at a time, and rehearse aloud in realistic conditions. Use bullet point notes to maintain authenticity and adaptability rather than memorizing a rigid script.
Tip 5: Use a "silent sentence." Replace unhelpful internal dialogue (e.g., striving for perfection) with a purposeful, positive intention, such as helping the audience. Develop and rehearse this silent sentence alongside the spoken content for consistency and reassurance.

Use intentional physical and mental techniques to appear confident, regardless of internal nerves — Provides a reliable path for speakers to support both themselves and their audience.