Do you shudder at the thought of presenting in front of a group?  Or, maybe you’re comfortable in front of a group, but feel your skills could use some polishing?

Polished communication skills should be the basis and core from which all of your talents and other work skills flow.  Without the ability to clearly communicate, your prospects for individual and business success are low.  Excellent communication skills portray as good leadership skills, and in most businesses are a necessary element and large consideration for promotion.

Today business communication is often over email, text and voice mail, making powerful in-person presentations more important than ever before.  Moreover, speaking with confidence is critical to being viewed as an authority in staff meetings, with clients, when networking, at large formal presentations and during upper level management meetings.

Surprisingly, confidence and the authority factor of in-person communication lies more with the way you look, act and project yourself more than what you actually say (but, of course, that is important too!).

Here are 6 keys to success on your path to speaking with confidence.

1.  Make an impact from the moment you enter the room.  This is important whether meeting one-on-one with a new (or existing) client, or addressing an auditorium full of people.  Showing up with a powerful, professional image will make a lasting impression and go a long way toward making your message resonate.  Start with the basics like a well put together outfit and personal presentation, but go above and beyond.  Here are just a few ideas spanning small to large group talks:

• One-on-One Meetings – bring an article, magazine, publication or book pertaining to a topic discussed at your last meeting; share a small business-related tool or gadget from your last business trip, vacation or a store; or give a memento pertaining to something your client likes.

• Small Group Meetings – Wear a new outfit, bold color or unique accessory; choose a location with a special point of interest or something different from the norm; begin the meeting with an ice-breaker (even if the group knows each other).

• Large Group Presentations – Play impactful music or enter with a prop pertaining to the topic; wear bold color; set your stage with props to use throughout the talk.

2.  Command your space to exude power.  Research proves that standing up straight and assuming positions or stances of power prior to your talk increases confidence and testosterone (power hormone), and decreases cortisol (stress hormone.)*  Power positions include stances like standing up tall and reaching for the ceiling with your arms stretched overhead; standing strong and tall with your hands on your hips; sitting tall in a chair with your feet up on a desk; or sitting in a chair with your hands behind your head and ankle resting over the opposite knee.  Assuming these poses for as little as two minutes prior to your presentation can make a huge difference in your delivery and confidence.

After you enter the room, assume a strong stance without crossing your legs or arms, and without pulling your shoulders down or inward.  These movements do not convey power or confidence.

3.  Grab your audience with your first word.  Think about the ‘firsts’ in sporting events; the football kickoff, first pitch in baseball, or basketball toss up – these are major actions that set the game in motion.  The same needs to be true each time you present.  Your starting words are your launch point to a successful presentation.  Begin with a relevant story, funny anecdote, interesting trivia about your topic, or audience quiz which ties into the topic.  Make it impactful and memorable.

4.  Develop rapport quickly and easily.  This doesn’t happen by standing behind the lectern, or sinking into your chair if you’re in a conference room.  Ditch the lectern if you are in front of a big group.  It creates a barrier.  Instead, invade the audience space.  Take your power and energy around the room, or across the stage to help make a connection to everyone.  Use positive gestures throughout your talk like a subtle thumbs up, nodding, smiling, and mirroring to make people buy your story or your point.

5.  Organize your points for maximum persuasion.  Impact, power, attention grabbing and building rapport all do matter, but the end goal is to get your core message across.  Know your content like you know the alphabet.  Don’t make the mistake of reading slides to your audience.  Put one or two key points on a slide with graphics and pictures to drive your point home, and let your slides act as memory joggers for your next point.  Run through your presentation ahead of time until it’s natural and easy to deliver.

6.  Conclude memorably.  Finish strong and people will remember your message.  Your closing is as important as your first moment of impact, and needs to make a lasting impression.

The best way to sum up how to be confident in front of a group is to ‘get out of your own way’.  Your audience is looking for information, education, tools, entertainment, enlightenment, and they want these things from someone who is efficient, capable and engaging.  Think about and focus completely on their needs when you are building your presentation, and what they want to get out of the encounter and walk away with when you are delivering it.

Of course, since you are the main event their eyes will be focused on you, but don’t waste time second guessing yourself, or in self-doubt.  People will be interested in what you have to say if you say it with impact.  And if you do it right, they will not only have heard your message by the end of your presentation, you will have won them over as well.

* Amy Cuddy: Your body language shapes who you are Ted Talk, June 2012

©Copyright 2015.  Kay Fittes.  All Rights Reserved.