How to Sound More Confident When You Speak

If someone had told me a few years ago that I'd have to time and again stand up in front of groups, deliver presentations, well, I would’ve laughed. Seriously. I'm naturally an introvert, and speaking publicly didn't exactly feel like my comfort zone.

But becoming an entrepreneur changed all of that. Suddenly, speaking confidently wasn’t just useful but necessary. I had to pitch ideas, share my vision, and motivate my team. The learning curve was steep, but along the way, I learnt some simple but powerful tricks to speak confidently, even when I felt unsure. Happy to share these tips today.

1. Stop Filling Silence With Fluff

I used to fill every tiny gap in my speech with words like "um," "ah," "you know," or "I mean." It felt safer. But, these filler words make you sound unsure and hesitant.

My trick? Get comfortable with silence. When someone asks a question, pause. Take a breath. Then answer. It sounds scary at first, but this silence gives back some control to you. It makes your responses clearer. And so, you appear more confident.

Instead of:

"Um, I think we can maybe do that."

Try:

(Pause) "We can definitely do that."

Another example:

Instead of:

"Ah, let me see if I understand correctly..."

Try:

(Pause) "Let me confirm my understanding."

Simple but effective.

2. Drop the "Question Tone"

Have you noticed how sometimes we end statements as if they're questions? It sounds something like: "I think we'll meet the deadline?" That small rise in tone at the end of the sentence makes us sound unsure, like we're asking for approval.

Drop your voice slightly at the end of sentences. Imagine you're confidently asking someone to pass the salt at dinner:

Instead of:

"Could you pass the salt?"

Make it sound more firm:

"Could you pass the salt."

Another practical example:

Instead of:

"Can we finish this project by Friday?"

Firmly say:

"We need to finish this project by Friday."

This tiny tweak instantly conveys certainty and strength.

3. Choose Your Words Wisely

Words like "just" and phrases like "does that make sense?" were my go-to phrases. They seemed harmless but actually undermined my confidence.

Consider this example:

Instead of saying:

"I just wanted to check if that made sense."

Simply say:

"What are your thoughts?"

Or another instance:

Instead of:

"Just following up on my previous email."

Say:

"I’m following up on my previous email."

By inviting others' opinions directly, you avoid suggesting your idea was unclear and instead create room for meaningful conversation.

4. How to Answer When You Don’t Know the Answer

We've all had moments when we’re hit with unexpected questions and panic sets in. Early in my entrepreneurial journey, this was my nightmare scenario. But I discovered a simple three-step strategy that has made all the difference:

• Pause and breathe.

  You don’t have to rush your answer.

• Lean on your experience.

  Say something like, "I haven’t encountered that before, but from my experience..."

• Use the word "confident."

  It's magical. For example, "I haven't faced that issue, but what I'm confident we can do is..."

Another helpful way:

If you’re unsure about something technical or detailed, try saying:

"That's a great question. Let me check with my team and get back to you with a confident answer."

This little technique turns uncertainty into authority.

Being confident doesn’t mean having all the answers or never feeling nervous. Being confident is about knowing how to communicate clearly, even when you’re unsure.

Small adjustments can lead to significant confidence boosts. Happy speaking!