What does Confidence sound like?

You cannot not communicate. You are always communicating. Therefore it is important to have an understanding of how you communicate and what you can do to communicate confidence. Even if you don’t feel it.

As you are probably already aware – a speaker’s words are only part of how they are communicated. The most commonly cited study on the relative importance of verbal and nonverbal messages in communication is one by Prof. Albert Mehrabian as shown in the diagram above that words, tone of voice and body language respectively account for 7%, 38%, and 55% of personal communication.

Bearing this in mind think about how you communicate. Specifically –

• What do you do on the outside?
• What do you sound like?
• What do you say?

Then consider how each of these element indicate confidence.

If you are not already doing this and communicating confidence then you need to be practicing and developing these skills.

What do you do on the outside?

This about visual indicators. What visual indicators indicate and convey confidence. Think about your body language, your gestures, posture post and expressions.

What does confidence look like? Confidence is smiling and making eye contact. It is maintaining a good posture and taking up space/walking the room (if this works for you) and breathing properly.

Think about what behaviours others around to you do and be more observant of what you can use to boost your own confidence.

Learn from others.

What does confidence sound like?

Think about what confidence sounds like and think about how you speak. What vocal characterics and/or quirks do you have?

The pitch and tone of your voice, the speed and rhythm of the spoken word, and the pauses between those words will express more than the words.

Be clear and concise when you are speaking (i.e. don’t mumble, waffle, speak too quickly or quietly). Have energy and enthusiasm to engage whoever you are speaking to. Remember, it is not just what you say it is how you say it.

Think: volume, pace, energy and tone. and practice.

What can you say to sound more confident?

Finally, words. Think about what make people sound confident. What can you say to make yourself sound more confident?

Start by using positive words (not negative ones) and avoid using umm and ahhs, or uncertain language (“I just wanted to ask”) or qualifiers (“It might be a bad idea, but….”).

Use postive, credible, assertive and solution focussed language to sound more confident.

Finally, consider your target audience and work for them (and will win them over).