3 Small Shifts to Make You a More Confident Leader by Tomorrow

They all inspired dramatic changes, thanks to their way with words. "But they were all naturals," I hear you say. Well, that's partly true, all three did have a natural affinity to leading people. But they still had to work on every one of their speeches. None of them got up on a podium, shot off a few words, waved and left. If you want to be a more confident leader, start small.

They all thought carefully about every single word they uttered. And that's a lesson we can all learn. Great leaders are great communicators. They choose their words thoughtfully and deliver them with confidence.

Luckily, your challenges aren't as great as those of the three orators mentioned earlier. But you can still inspire with a few well-placed words.

Here are three small shifts to make you a more confident leader by tomorrow.

1. Quit Saying ‘Can't’

You can't do everything... but THEY don't need to know that. So the next time someone asks you to do something, don't say "I can't do that" instead say "I don't do that".

Let's imagine you work for a graphic design company and a client asks you to create a video for them. Well, you don't have the right equipment, your staff don't know how to video edit and the result will look awful.

But you definitely shouldn't say that to the client.

Instead go for something like: "Thanks very much for the offer, but we don't do video creation."

Now, compare that to: "Thanks very much for the offer, but we can't do video creation.”

It's a very minor change, just one word, but it flips the sentence on its head. The first suggests you might be able to do it, but don't. The second is unequivocal. You can not do it.

So stop saying the word can't and start saying don't. Because who knows what tomorrow holds? We live in a world of possibilities!

2. Stop Apologizing

Getting our co-workers to like us is a constant building process. Most of us like to be liked, it's in our nature. And one way humans build trust is through apologizing. It sounds strange but it's true. We even say sorry for things that aren't our fault.

Sorry, YOU accidentally stepped on MY foot. It was very inconsiderate of me to leave it on the floor where anyone could have trod on it.

It's an easy way to appear non-threatening and gain others' trust. But you need to stop doing it. Confident leaders don't need to apologize for something they can't control.

Instead, you need to find a different way to phrase it.

Let's imagine a co-worker has had to work late. Instead of saying, "I'm sorry you had to be here so late" try, "Thanks so much for working hard until the end of this late night".

It's a really simple shift from negative to positive. By saying sorry you're highlighting the negatives. But by expressing yourself through gratitude you focus on the positives.

3. Start Focusing

A confident person appears in control. They might not be, but they appear it. So to be a more confident leader, stop saying "I’m busy".

That makes it sound like you can't handle your workload. Instead, say you're focusing on something else. For example, if someone asks you to do a task you don't have time for don't say, "Sorry, but my priority is all-in on another project at the moment.".

Both have the same end result: you're saying no to the new project. But the second option makes you appear in control of your working life.

It should have the added bonus of giving you a confidence boost. Instead of feeling flustered, you are resetting your mind, targeting an issue, and living proactively.

Bonus: Be Confident

The greatest speeches are delivered with conviction. Conviction and confidence go hand in hand when it comes to being a leader. If you believe in where you are going, you'll be happy to take others with you. Which means when you speak to your colleagues you have to deliver your ideas with confidence.

A few tricks to make you appear more confident are:

1. Stand Up Straight: Slouching makes someone appear unconfident in what they are about to say. Instead, stand up tall. Imagine you have a string coming from the top of your head and someone is pulling it from above. Next, put your shoulders down and back. This will instantly make you appear more confident. It will also help to fill your lungs with lots of oxygen — great for when you need to think clearly.

2. Speak Clearly and Slowly: If you're in an uncomfortable speaking situation you probably want to get it over and done with. We tend to rush our words and stumble over them. But take your time. Enunciating is very important when it comes to appearing confident. Silences are also okay when you're imparting wisdom. Give the listener the time to take in your pearls of wisdom.

3. Make Eye Contact: When you're speaking to someone, you should address them properly. That means making eye contact. It's a necessary evil, so practice it when you're talking to friends and family. Make a conscious effort to look into their eyes and you'll be more confident next time it comes to speaking to someone you don't know as well.

4. Stop Fidgeting: If you're feeling nervous then you'll have a natural instinct to fidget. Touching your face and rubbing your arms are clear signs you're feeling stressed. Instead, keep your hands on show and keep them together if you need.

Great leadership starts with excellent communication. The next time you go into the office, use these little nuggets and you'll instantly see an improvement.

Remember, choose your words carefully and deliver with confidence.