At BrandTuitive, we firmly believe that your career is 100% your responsibility – something we try to instill in everyone on our team from interns to managers. Not only does this mean it is your job to work hard for the opportunities you want, but it also means that the main person responsible for your professional development is you. One of our core values is to foster unprecedented development of people, which is why we take training very seriously and strive to give our employees the push they need to continue to take responsibility for their career path.
Something that can make a huge difference as a professional is your ability to carry yourself with confidence. In situations such as interviews, presentations and even just regular conversations, appearing poised and assured can make a real impact on how you portray yourself. In these instances, a lack of confidence can make you seem unsure of what you are saying, which in turn can make you seem less credible. If you are able to strongly assert yourself, the people around you will look at you as someone who knows what they’re talking about.
A simple way to boost your confidence is to adjust your posture. If you are slouched, avoiding eye contact or fidgeting, it can make you seem nervous and can be distracting to the person you’re talking to. While it may seem like a minor change, sitting up straight and raising your head can entirely change your appearance and even make you feel more confident in the process.
Word choice and tone of voice can also have an immense influence on how you come across. It can be daunting to raise the volume of your voice and speak clearly especially if you are feeling nervous, but it’s crucial to make sure you are heard in the way you want to be. In the same way, word choice can also immediately make you appear nervous rather than calm and prepared. If you say, “I think I can get this to you by Tuesday,” it is much weaker and less assured than saying, “I will get this to you by Tuesday.” Just switching a few words can make a huge difference in how you sound, strengthening your tone and conveying your self-confidence.
Speaking confidently can be extremely important both in your professional and personal life. An example of this is in asking for what you want and being prepared to defend it if you need to. Some of the hardest conversations you could have in your career include interviews and asking for a pay raise. In situations like these, it is crucial to present yourself well with strong posture, confident word choice and a firm tone of voice. Mock conversations like interviews are perfect opportunities to work on your confidence and prepare yourself for the real thing; whether it’s with a friend, colleague or even a supervisor. We believe this is one of the most valuable experiences in gaining confidence, which is why we sometimes role play interviews or pay raise conversations with our interns.
Though it may seem relatively simple, there is a lot that goes into appearing genuinely confident in professional situations. Yet, the value of presenting yourself with confidence goes far beyond just seeming like you know what you’re talking about. It can completely change how others perceive you, leading to countless opportunities which may not have been available to you otherwise.