{"id":426,"date":"2019-12-16T10:26:07","date_gmt":"2019-12-16T10:26:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.bossjob.ph\/?p=426"},"modified":"2019-12-16T10:28:02","modified_gmt":"2019-12-16T10:28:02","slug":"6-ways-to-feel-confident-even-when-youre-not","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bossjob.ph\/blog\/career-advice\/426\/6-ways-to-feel-confident-even-when-youre-not\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Ways to Feel Confident (Even When You’re Not)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you had the feeling that you are pretending to be someone you\u2019re not and feel uncomfortable about it? It\u2019s actually pretty common in many workplaces. The lack of self-confidence can really make you feel inadequate, no matter how optimistic you try to be. Good news is that there are ways to fight it! Sometimes, it\u2019s more about believing in yourself than if you have any experience doing it.<\/p>\n

Here are 8 ways to look like a pro and feel confident, even when you\u2019re entirely sure what you\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cBelieve you can and you’re halfway there.\u201d \u2015 Theodore Roosevelt<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

1. Act like you know your stuff<\/h2>\n

As the saying goes, \u201cfake it till you make it\u201d. If you have no idea what you\u2019re talking about, make other believe that you do. Avoid using filler words like \u201chmm\u201d, \u201cumm\u201d, \u201cuh-huh\u201d frequently and talk slowly. Use an authoritative and confident tone to cover up any uncertainty in your voice. By doing so, people would think that you\u2019re the domain expert in whatever it is you\u2019re presenting.<\/p>\n

More importantly, always think about what you want to say and be prepared. This can prevent you from mumbling or having random pauses during your speech.<\/p>\n

2. Listen more than you speak<\/h2>\n

Ever felt like nobody at work listens to you?<\/a> Frustrating, isn’t it? Don\u2019t be that person. People who talk a lot and don\u2019t listen enough tend to be more insecure than those who do the opposite. When you\u2019re feeling anxious, it\u2019s natural to babble to avoid any awkward silence. Those who are really confident are quiet and composed. They already know what to do and they know what they know.<\/p>\n

Hence, to seem more confident, try to listen way more than you speak. Ask open-ended questions and let others share their thoughts. Carry on the conversation by asking more relevant questions about why they think so, what they\u2019ve learned from it, and what can be done to further improve it. A great tip for those who always can\u2019t seem to find the right thing to say when they are nervous, just stay calm and ask for others\u2019 opinion. Since only confident people are comfortable with letting others speak instead of being the centre of attention all the time, you got nothing to lose here!<\/p>\n

3. Maintain good eye contact<\/h2>\n

People who avoid eye contact are seem lack of self-confidence, but giving too much eye contact make you look overly intimidating. You want to find the right balance and give just the right amount of eye contact to the person or group of people you\u2019re talking to. According to Lifehacker<\/a>, making eye contact 60 percent of the time is a good general rule. However, it depends mostly on the situation, but it a good gauge to ensure you are engaging without coming across as aggressive.<\/p>\n

It takes some practice to master eye contact. Try practicing with your friends and family and get feedback from them. If you\u2019re having a tough time looking into someone\u2019s eyes, a common tip is to look at their nose instead as it would give the person an illusion that you\u2019re looking at their eyes.<\/p>\n

4. Use the right body language<\/h2>\n

Avoid showing body language that scream low confidence such as:<\/p>\n