How to Appear Confident (even when you don't feel it!)

Happy Monday! I can't believe we're starting another week, time is flying by so fast for me these days! This week represents a big one- I have hugely important event happening for work this morning (prayers appreciated!), I'll be traveling tomorrow, Wednesday is the first day of Fall, and I'm attending the Landmark Music Festival all next weekend. To make things crazier, I'm in the midst of my busy season for work so I have a lot to do to make sure everything is squared away. I love to be organized, it gives me a sense of calmness that I have yet to find another way. Additionally, when I feel like everything is under control in a certain area of my life, I'm able to focus my energy elsewhere. But I'm human, and unfortunately I forget to cross certain t's and dot certain i's. It usually happens at the worst time possible- and the realization of those missteps leads to panic. Thankfully, I have learned a few ways to put my best foot forward and fake confidence on the outside even when I feel like I'm falling apart on the inside. I wanted to share a couple with y'all today!

Take a deep breath and focus. Whether I'm about to give a presentation to colleagues or walk into a meeting with an important customer, re-centering my thoughts is the way to go. Placing all focus into the task at hand- and squashing the temptation to worry about something completely unrelated- helps channel your energy towards rocking your task!

Stand up straight. Posture, specifically poor posture, can totally set the tone for how you are perceived before you even open your mouth. Standing with your feet shoulder's width apart and planted (read: not shifting your weight side-to-side), keeping a micro-bend in your knees so they don't lock, and rolling your shoulders back shows anyone who's watching that you have things under control. Be mindful of your hands and do your best not to fidget!

Smile. Having a bright, confident smile on your face does more than a million reassuring words! Think of something that makes you genuinely happy and it will show. This allows you to appear relaxed and ready to take on what's in front of you!

Wear a power outfit. That statement means different things to different people. To me, a power outfit would consist of clothing that makes me feel comfortable yet look polished. I don't want to be worried about straps sliding down or hemlines riding up! My power outfit is typically a pencil skirt with a loose-fitting sleeved blouse tucked in, and my favorite black heels. Honestly, it could be anything that gives you that extra "oomph" when you need it!

Speak slowly. I don't know about y'all, but when I'm nervous or excited I tend to talk at a rate that's easily 2x that of my normal language. Combating this takes conscious effort but truly helps to come across cool, calm, and collected! I try to intentionally pick my words and make sure that I'm articulating my thoughts in the best way. This keeps me from rushing ahead of myself in my mind and speaking too quickly.

While it doesn't seem like a ton of work, when used properly these tips have the ability to make a huge impact on how others perceive you! Next time you're in a pinch- I hope you remember a few of these and are able to implement them to project a little extra confidence. If you found these helpful, don't forget to pin this article to reference later!

What do you do to appear confident? Have you used any of these tips successfully?