There is one critical secret to communication confidence that I’d like to share with you. Just one, but it makes an incredible difference to your ability to communicate with power and confidence. That secret is…
The world needs your voice.
Sounds simple, but if you really understand this, your communication confidence will fly.
So let’s unpick it. In what way is it true that the world needs your voice?
1. Everyone has a contribution to make
Although it’s easy to think that loudest is always best, it takes all sorts to inspire people to think or act differently. Your contribution may not be the most flashy, it may not look the same as everyone else, but it still has huge power for someone.
2. It actually doesn’t matter how confident you feel
Even if you feel nervous about letting the world hear your voice, it doesn’t matter – do it anyway. Although you may be feeling terrified about speaking your voice, remember that 90% of your nerves cannot be seen by your audience.
And even if they do see your nerves, don’t worry. Most audiences do not judge nerves as a bad thing if the communicator is honest about them and doesn’t let it put them off.
3. Owning your unique voice gives you communication confidence
There is always space in the world for another voice of authenticity. We don’t need another carbon copy of a ‘successful’ communicator, we need your voice. And owning the voice that can only come from you will help you feel more confident. We all have experience of just being ourselves (in fact we’re experts on it), so once we’ve gotten over the fear of being seen, authentic communication actually makes you feel more confident, more powerful and it connects you more with your audience.
4. Confidence comes from speaking for the world that needs you
When we think about our own worries and self doubts it’s easy to be a nervous communicator. But when we think of a bigger mission; a cause that needs us that’s bigger than we are, we naturally become braver and more confident communicators.
The prime example of this is Gandhi. In his early years he was a nervous communicator, but through focusing on a cause that was larger than him, he became confident and powerful. We get confidence from thinking about others rather than worrying about ourselves.
