3 Fundamentals to Communicate with Confidence
Ed Darling
3 min read
What you’ll learn:
- How body language helps you communicate with confidence.
- Why your voice is key to confident communication.
- The mindset secret that unlocks public speaking confidence.
The Key to Confident Communication
Want to communicate with confidence in any setting — be it a boardroom, stage, or casual meeting?
With countless books, articles, and videos on public speaking confidence, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Where do you start?
As a coach who’s helped hundreds of people to overcome anxiety and master communication, I’ve boiled it down to three fundamentals: body language, voice, and mindset.
These are some of the cornerstones of our training courses and coaching programs. First up, body language.
1. Master Body Language for Confident Communication
Before you say a word, your body speaks.
It takes just 7 seconds for people to form a first impression, so nailing your body language is crucial to communicate with confidence.
In psychology, there’s a term called “winners’ body language” — think of the warm, powerful, enthusiastic vibe of an athlete crossing the finish line or a star accepting an award: head high, arms open, smile beaming.
That’s the energy you want. But under the pressure of public speaking, nerves often flip this script: head down, arms crossed, face tense.
How to fix it:
Spot negative habits. Watch for signs of nerves, like looking down, hands in pockets, or fidgeting feet.
Use a pattern interrupt. Catch yourself in the act and do the opposite: hold eye contact, gesture purposefully, plant your feet firmly.
Practice awareness. In stressful moments (even off-stage), notice your body language. Do you slouch or furrow your brow? Train yourself to shift to open, confident postures.
Confident body language doesn’t just signal the audience, it’s also a key signal back to your own subconscious, affirming that you’re calm and in control.
Quick Tip: Practice “winners’ body language” in everyday settings to build the habit. Walk slightly taller, sit up straight, practise moving in a calm and deliberate fashion.
Ready to speak with confidence?
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2. Use Your Voice to Boost Confidence in Communication
Your voice is a powerhouse for confident communication, but most speakers underuse it. With over 100 muscles involved in speaking, it’s an instrument that needs tuning.
Common vocal pitfalls such as monotone delivery, rushed speech, and filler words can undermine your credibility and make you sound unprepared.
To communicate with confidence, harness the full range of your voice. Start by recording yourself speaking for 60 seconds on any topic. Yes, it might feel cringy, but listening back is going to reveal exactly what you need to work on.
Ask yourself:
- Do I sound engaging and confident?
- Am I using too many “ums” or “likes”?
- Is my pace too fast or my tone flat?
How to improve your voice:
Vary your melody. Add highs and lows to avoid monotone and keep listeners hooked.
Slow your pace. Speak deliberately to project authority and reduce filler words.
Breathe deeply. Use diaphragmatic breathing to power your voice and calm nerves.
Quick Tip: Listen to a favourite podcast host and mimic their vocal variety. Practice reading a paragraph aloud with different tones to build a confident speaking voice. Check out more vocal tips here.
3. Adopt a Mindset That Fuels Public Speaking Confidence
A negative mindset can sabotage your ability to communicate with confidence more than anything else. Too often, we obsess over being judged:
Will I sound assertive? Will they like me?
This “me, me, me” spiral fuels anxiety and distracts from your message.
The secret to confident communication? Flip the focus from what you need (approval, applause) to what you give (value, inspiration).
Every speech — whether to inform, entertain, or persuade — is about your audience, not you.
How to shift your mindset:
Focus on serving. Ask, “What can I give my audience? How can I impact one person today?”
Reframe nerves. Instead of fearing judgment, see your talk as a chance to share something meaningful.
Quick Tip: Before speaking, take a deep breath and remind yourself, “It’s about them, not me.” This simple mantra boosts confidence in communication instantly.
Practice Makes Confident Communication
To communicate with confidence, you’ve got to put these fundamentals into action. Reading about body language, voice, or mindset isn’t enough — you need real-world “low pressure practice” to make them stick.
As Aristotle said:
“For the things we must learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.”
The best way to build public speaking confidence? Speak more. Seek opportunities to practice, whether in a coaching program, a low-stakes meeting, or a casual chat.
Master your body language, hone your voice, and shift your mindset to serve your audience.
Ready to try these in your next talk? Drop me an email or connect on LinkedIn — I’d love to hear how you’re building confidence in communication.
To your public speaking success,
Ed