Hello Talkers!

Quick: ☎️ What’s your first reaction when your phone rings? Do you love it or loathe it?

Thanks again to Talk About Talk listeners for suggesting last week’s ?podcast topic: Communication Media: Phone or Email? Many many listeners have told me since that this is a very important and useful topic. ?

Thanks as well to HR expert Tamara Finlay for sharing her advice and insights. There’s a lot more to this than just the generational-divide! I hope you too are thinking more carefully before you hit SEND!!! ?

? This Week: CONFIDENCE

Specifically, we are focusing on “Communicating with Confidence.” Confidence comes from the Latin fidere, meaning “to trust,” as in trusting oneself.

We’ve got some help for you in this newsletter!

body language that exudes confidence
confidence mantras
5 ways to develop your confidence

You can skim this short email or click the links to learn more.

Let’s do this…

?BODY LANGUAGE That Exudes CONFIDENCE

Research shows that when we ACT confident, we BECOME confident.

Yes, ACT.

I’m not advocating being inauthentic here. I am advocating using your physical body to act confident. You can use body language to demonstrate to others and to yourself that you are confident and in control.

Next time you’re in an important meeting or giving a presentation, do a body language scan and focus on three things:

Your posture

Start by taking up lots of space. Be open. Sit or stand up straight.
Uncross your legs and unfold your arms.
Breathe (and importantly – do not hold your breath!)

Your hands

Don’t hide your hands. Keep them in plain view on the table, or if you’re standing, outside of your pockets.
Don’t fidget.

Your eyes

Face the person who’s talking. Look them directly in the eye.
Nod in agreement and mirror the person with whom you are conversing.
Smile – not just with your lips. Make direct eye contact and smile with your eyes.

MANTRAS

For centuries, Hindus and Buddhists have used mantras (repeated words or sounds) to help them focus in meditation. The idea of repeating a statement verbally and in our minds to focus our thoughts makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it? It’s like formalizing self-talk.

We can use mantras for different purposes. They can be general life-guiding principles, or they can be focused on some specific purpose.

Internalizing a mantra when you’re preparing for a big event or presentation can certainly help you focus and calm your nerves.

My Dad always had a sign on his desk that said “Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way.” I’m guessing that mantra served to inspire him, as well as anyone who came into his office!

I have two mantras:

“I’ll either rock this or I’ll have a great story.
Either way it’s a win.”
(thank you again, Sandy Jobin-Bevans)

“I rarely regret the things I do,
only the things I don’t do.”

Do YOU have a mantra?

Here are a few prompts to get you thinking:

You can find more fabulous, inspiring mantras from the Talk About Talk community in the “Communicating with Confidence” paper found on Linkedin HERE or on Facebook HERE.

Once you have your mantra, it helps to internalize it by going “multi-media:” say it in your mind; say it out loud; print it and read it. You can post your mantra:

on your screen-saver
at the top of your to-do list
on your bulletin board
in your wallet
on the sidewalk!

✋ 5 Ways to Develop Your CONFIDENCE

Last week I published a paper called, 5 Things You Can do to Communicate with CONFIDENCE.

Here’s your primer. The 5 Things You Can do to Communicate with CONFIDENCE are:

1. Practice & prepare

The same way athletes practice to create muscle memory, we can also prepare to communicate confidently

2. Adopt a mantra

See above!

3. Borrow some confidence

Remember that time you nailed the presentation? Well, how about channeling that feeling? How did you prepare? How did you feel?

4. Get a pep talk

From a coach, a partner, a friend, or a trusted colleague. Most people are honoured to be asked to provide a pep talk. They can help you calm you nerves and you will learn a slightly different perspective on the communication challenge.

5. Act confident

As in: use your body language to let others and your own brain know that YOU GOT THIS!

Please read the paper and
let me know what you think!

“C” is for “CONFIDENCE”

That’s it for this week. Except one thing: Did you notice I didn’t suggest the “picture your audience in their underwear” trick? That’s because it doesn’t work! It’s just… distracting. RIGHT?!?

Did you download the “5 Simple Steps to Improve Your Communication“ that I sent you last week? You may have noticed that “C = Act CONFIDENT” shows up here!!!

Don’t forget – This printable document is available for a limited time to new and existing Talk About Talk email subscribers. Please encourage your friends to sign up for this weekly email newsletter by going to the Talk About Talk website!