Boost Your Confidence: 3 Proven Tips to Speak Confidently with Colleagues at Work

Master the art of workplace communication and develop your professional career with these 3 confidence-boosting tips

From Managing Director to Maid of Honor, I’m always at the podium. Photo by Jules Kennedy

I can still feel the heat in my belly the first time I presented at an all-agency meeting.

My first real job out of college was at a large ad agency in Los Angeles. We were part of a much larger group called Publicis, but our agency had about 400 people at the time.

Little old 21-year-old me ran all of the charity work we did, and I needed volunteers. So I convinced the Office Manager to give me a spot at our next all-agency meeting.

It was terrifying. Even though I had taken public speaking classes as part of my Undergrad Business degree, I stumbled over my words, gave plenty of “um”s, and sweat through the armpits of my shirt. The words on my index cards bled, I gripped them so hard.

I was able to raise enough money and gain enough team members, but I wouldn’t say that presentation was a success.

And yet the second year I presented for the exact same purpose, it was smooth sailing. I looked at the President directly as I spoke. I had a clear beginning that set up my 3 talking points and…