Michelle Yozzo Drake offers her #1 tip to evoke instant confidence during a presentation - no matter how nervous you might feel.
Business ConfidenceMy top trick to make a speech powerful and put the presenter at ease:
Note cards: write down the main points of your speech and instead of holding onto those cards for dear life - and creating a barrier between you and the audience - set those cards down and move your hands around. Pull your arms to the side and open up your shoulders, making you look instantly more relaxed. This projects you as being comfortable, and gives you a position of power.
Women tend to struggle with open body language more than men because women are taught to create the illusion of taking up little space as possible. Men are taught the opposite and will keep their body language very open by leaning on the arms of chairs or podiums and keeping a wide stance. Men own their space, giving them an air of confidence while speaking or in an office setting.
I often coach people going in for interviews to resist the urge to sit with their hands in their lap; instead, I tell them to take one arm and put it on the arm of your chair. Instant confidence.
