The 4 Critical Elements You Need to Speak More Freely and Confidently

Unlike other approaches to public speaking, this course focuses on building your confidence and clarity from the inside -- before you speak" says Jim Kelley, creator of the Speaking Confidence Mastery series.

The first step in ChangeWorks Institute's Speaking Confidence Mastery series is the unique, fast and powerful Speaking Confidence Crash Course -- a straightforward, yet revolutionary, approach to increasing your confidence and ease when speaking professionally to groups large and small. The course is designed for people whose careers demand effective speaking and who would be a lot more satisfied with their performance if they knew how to be more authentic and confident. Speaking Confidence Crash Course gets you up to speed and more comfortable quickly, and you’ll learn the fundamental skills master speakers use to get their message across.

"Unlike other approaches to public speaking, this course focuses on building your confidence and clarity from the inside -- before you speak," says Jim Kelley, creator of the Speaking Confidence Mastery series. "When you focus on breathing, self-management and getting out of your own way, learning presentation skills becomes much easier and a lot more fun."

Here are the four critical elements to keep in mind when you’re preparing to speak:

1. Awareness of Your Body

Awareness of the body starts with paying attention to where you’re standing, how you feel in your body, the organization of your thoughts, and your connection to the earth. This

course teaches you how to feel at ease so that all the props of a good presentation, such as body language and appropriate dress, complement a solid core of confidence and authenticity.

2. Building Distress Tolerance

Once you’re aware of your body, it’s important to build tolerance to distress so you can be in control of yourself and your emotions. The first thing to do is recognize the signs when you become upset, nervous, or uncomfortable. Then by focusing on the breath, you become able to operate and connect with your message -- even under pressure.

3. Emotional Regulation

When humans sense danger, they automatically choose one of three responses. They may prepare to fight or flee, or they’re drawn to the opposite response, which is to sit down and regroup. The third option, which is less discussed but equally well known, is to freeze.

When it’s time for people to speak, they often freeze and their emotions go blank.

Emotional Regulation includes learning to regulate your breath, which then regulates your heart rate. It’s one of the aspects of the Speaking Confidence Crash Course in which honing your conscious awareness becomes a practice that really works.

4. Interpersonal Skills

The fourth, and possibly the most important, element of speaking confidence is to remember that your goal is to reach and connect with other people. Interpersonal skills are about how you manage your relationship with yourself and with others. We will work on practicing relationship skills so that you can really tune into your purpose and best use yours and your audience’s time. Ask yourself, how can we best share our time, and what do we want to accomplish together?

When you apply these four key elements with the other lessons in the course, you’ll discover a new-found ease in speaking up and conveying a powerful message.

The Speaking Confidence Crash Course gives you the chance to be seen as an authority without trying so hard. It will transform the way you work and address groups, and give you access to more opportunities in your personal life and career.

"And the coolest thing is," says Jim, "in the Speaking Confidence Crash Course, you'll get more clear and comfortable -- with your connection to yourself, your audience, and your message. It's easier and more fun, so get ready, the struggle is almost over!"