When you're confident, you know that getting your own way doesn't have to come at someone else's expense. It takes extraordinary courage to be confident in yourself while sharing your ideas, especially if you work on a team where you aren't necessarily seen as the type to voice ideas or opinions. Jumpstart Your Business. Show your respect by only sharing your best ideas with them. Communication is everything in life and business. You can find more strategies to improve how you feel in my new book, The Stress Response and by clicking here to sign up for more of my tips and podcasts using DBT strategies to improve how you feel.+. For example, you may say, "I know it's convenient for me to be available over email during weekends, but I can't do that any more. Related: The 6 Questions Entrepreneurs Should Be Prepared for Investors to Ask. In each interaction it is not what you communicate but how you communicate that makes all the difference. Trust Entrepreneur to help you find out. Evidence or research will help you not to falter because you have reliable information to reference if you are called upon to prove yourself. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. By acting confidently, particularly at the start of your career, you can influence how others perceive you and change how you feel about yourself. Never lead with an apology or any type of excuse which shows insecurity. ", For example, your coworker may say, "You missed the project meeting and don't have any way to make it up. In the case of communication, actions often precede feelings. Last Updated: September 5, 2019 It takes confidence to share your ideas in the workplace, especially if your … Be well-groomed and possess a sense of humor. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. Approach a situation with the attitude that it is possible that both perspectives are valid and that two or more people can gain from an interaction. People are people. If you approach senior executives with an “underling” disposition your ideas and opinions will not be taken seriously. Confident eye contact isn't a persistent stare, but it is a meeting of the eyes as you speak and make your point. Your body language and style not only affect whether you get what you want, but also the way you feel about yourself. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, Register to vote and apply for an absentee ballot today, The essential guide to taking care of your mind and body. The more genuine you allow yourself to be regardless of company culture and the more willing you are to put what you think out there, the more successful you will inspire your team to be. Being confident can be as easy as maintaining eye contact, maintaining a relaxed body stance, and talking with concision. Imagine someone asking for a raise. This article was co-authored by Gale McCreary. I am seriously considering moving you back to the packing department.”, You may then respond by saying, “I realize I missed the meeting because of poor time management on my part. Have the courage to utilize your spontaneity, creative energy, vigor, and sense of humor. It may be the culture of the team or company. Confronting Anxiety She was previously a Silicon Valley CEO and President of a Toastmasters International chapter. If you act confident enough, you will become confident enough. Suppressing those qualities won't serve you, your message, or your company. Acting confident doesn't mean that you'll always get your way. She has a BS in Biology from Stanford University. Let's face it: How you interact matters. Control your emotions. An added bonus is that expressing gratitude happens to be one of the most effective ways to strengthen relationships. It shows great character to bend and be flexible while also sticking strongly to what you believe about your ideas and opinions. Respect yourself first by showing confidence and then always be respectful when sharing your ideas. Be confident in what you say and in your communication interactions with others. Entrepreneur Insider is your all-access pass to the skills, experts, and network you need to get your business off the ground—or take it to the next level. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Business interactions range from big egos and hot-headed temperaments to people who are too insecure to speak up. She has been recognized as Santa Barbara Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year and received Congressional recognition for providing a Family-Friendly work environment. It is worth the risk. Express Gratitude. Try not to make statements sound like questions and avoid trying to sound aggressive or demeaning. You cannot let these lower level insecurities or any defensiveness be a part of your equation. Be willing to risk. Part of HuffPost Wellness. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Communication must be respectful to be received well by your counterparts. Authenticity is a contagious character trait. Acknowledge others, give and receive compliments, recognize other people's difficulties. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. 9. Copyright © 2020 Entrepreneur Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 1. No staring at the floor or looking out the window. Deal with this like a pebble in your shoe. Whenever you present something new, expect to be challenged, then rise to the occasion by citing the evidence and research forming your position. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Listening to others is a way of expanding your view of the world, bridging the differences between you and someone else and demonstrating that your belief in yourself is strong enough to take in other points-of-view. No attacks or threats. The Importance of Self Confidence in your Communication with Others One reason for a lack of social skills and bad communication is a lack of self confidence. Projecting confidence in yourself and your ideas helps others to pay attention (and hopefully be persuaded). You must cultivate the emotional control, insight, charisma and courage to voice your ideas and respectfully champion them. Are you paying too much for business insurance? Sometimes we interact in ways that diminish our own self-confidence. Your attitude, approach, nonverbal energy and tone of voice reveal everything. Related: 7 Things You Should Never Say to Your Boss. Speak from the heart. I need time with my family. Confidence is all about self-acceptance. Dress the part, play the role and say what you need to say as it if is absolute truth. As you look around at your peers, you may feel there's a normal way of dressing, speaking, looking, and acting and it can be compelling to maintain status quo. Start your communication with a strong, confident “I” statement backed up with evidence in support of the validity of your ideas or opinions. This article has been viewed 43,771 times. She has been recognized as Santa Barbara Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year and received Congressional recognition for providing a Family-Friendly work environment. View these challenges not as rejections, but as welcomed opportunities. When confronted or questioned, first acknowledge the other person’s point of view, then firmly and cordially demonstrate the valid reasons you see things differently. 4. This article was co-authored by Gale McCreary. Use humor. Being assertive in conversation with others helps you get what you want and need and stand up for yourself and your values. Gale McCreary is the Founder and Chief Coordinator of SpeechStory, a nonprofit organization focused on improving communication skills in youth. Interestingly, you don't have to be confident to act confident. Be aware of your body. These emotions must be overcome for your ideas to be heard, respected and then utilized. 2. Act confident and you just might find that you're feeling better about yourself, as well.