Speak with Confidence Tips

Tip #1: Consider your use of contractions

If you want to polish and add gravitas to your speaking style, it’s time to reconsider your use of contractions. The words below can be a good start to set a formal tone and an excellent approach to elevate your messaging.

aren’t → are not;

there’s → there is;

can’t → cannot;

they’d → they had;

couldn’t → could not;

they’ll → they will;

didn’t → did not;

they’re → they are

Not every situation calls for formality, but there are some situations where being well-spoken or more formal may benefit you—negotiating a contract, sharing a presentation with C-level leaders, delivering serious news, or influencing others.

Tip #2: Prepare quick opening and closing remarks for your meetings

In a recent coaching session last week, a client (let’s call her Mary), the Founder of her company, expressed frustration. During bigger events such as offsite sales meetings or team events, the last speaker often turns to her and says on the mic, “Mary, any final thoughts?” Mary, as an introvert (and taken by surprise), tends to respond with a simple “Nope, all set!”

For event hosts (CEOs, heads of IR, Founders), preparing both opening and closing remarks can be incredibly beneficial even if you are not officially scheduled to speak at those times. These moments are a valuable opportunity to conclude events meaningfully, express gratitude and build trust.

Here are some examples to consider:

• Short and sweet closing remark: “If you have any follow-up questions, please drop by my office next week. As a token of appreciation for your time, treats and swag bags are in the hallway. Help yourself on your way out! Thank you.”
• More elaborate closing remark: “Before we depart, I want to thank everyone who participated this week. Your presence made this event a huge success! A special acknowledgment to our XXX team for their outstanding efforts in organizing everything from XXX to XXX. Their dedication was pivotal to the success of our Fourth Annual XXX. Let’s show our gratitude for their hard work!”

Seize these moments to conclude your gatherings on a high note and leave a lasting, positive impression.

Tip #3: Practice for a ballroom-setting presentation in front of a busy storefront

It’s a busy time of year as we coach speakers for Fall Annual Global Meetings in Private Equity and Financial Services. In a coaching session earlier this week, a client had the (accidental) opportunity to practice their ten-minute presentation in a glass-walled boardroom, with at least 15 folks walking through the halls at 3 p.m., hunting for snacks and caffeine. This made me extremely happy because if you can stay laser-focused in a chaotic environment when you practice, you’ll feel the same sense of calm and control in a hotel ballroom, with all the people typing, eating, getting up to go to the bathroom, whispering, laptop notifications dinging, etc.

To replicate a busy ballroom environment, you can go to a place like a storefront or shopping center and say your presentation out loud. (You can slip in earbuds if you want to look like you are talking to someone!) Can you stay focused on your content despite the sirens, crying babies, and bustling people? People who have ADHD or are Neurodivergent (Autism Spectrum, etc.) could also significantly benefit from this type of practice. The more important the presentation, the more rigorous your preparation should be.

Tip #4: Use transition phrases to add content fluidity

As you change slides or topics during a presentation, you might find yourself saying things like:

• So yeah, anyway
• Um, ok next slide
• Sorry, that was a lot of info; moving on…

Instead, memorize a few transition phrases to add polish, such as:

• From an overall perspective on…
• I’d like to walk you through…
• In our conversations on the importance of…

Here’s a great quote to motivate you:

“When you are not practicing, someone else is getting better.” – Allen Iverson