Confidence is king: 3 tips on how to assert yourself when speaking to a group

Regardless of what industry you work in, meetings can play a big part in your day-to-day business life. If the onus is on you to lead such a gathering, then speaking confidently and assertively can be tricky.

Even the most accomplished and self-assured speaker will have moments of anxiety that limits their abilities. Here are three things to keep in mind the next time you have to engage multiple people at once:

Dress confidently

Worrying about your appearance is only natural if you are being gazed at by a plethora of eyes. Getting your outfit right first – before you start to worry about what you’re actually going to say – can prove to be crucial in inspiring self-confidence.

After all, if you look and – more importantly – feel confident then it is likely this will come through when you actually have to stand up and speak.

Plan, plan and plan some more

Beating that fear of speaking up can be easier to avoid if you make adequate preparations. Not properly planning the aims and outcomes of your presentation can prove costly.

Drafting what you plan to say and even going as far as reading it to yourself in the mirror can help alleviate those pre-meeting jitters.

Don’t let distractions get in the way

If you’re not well versed in speaking to a group, then one of the biggest fears can arise from worrying about them not being properly engaged. People talking amongst themselves or other outside influences such as phone calls and email notifications can all prove to be incredibly off-putting for you and your wider audience.

It can be a difficult to make sure your peers stay attentive. However, doing the little things like getting them to switch off their mobiles or tablets is an incredibly simple factor in ensuring that you are the sole focus of their attention.