On Cue with Kafui: DEY How to build confidence fast

People often ask me how to become more confident on stage.

Usually, they are hoping for a magical solution.

Perhaps a secret breathing technique discovered by monks in the mountains. Perhaps a motivational quote powerful enough to eliminate fear forever. Some are hoping confidence can somehow be downloaded overnight like a software update.

Unfortunately, confidence does not work that way.

Confidence is built.

The good news, however, is that it can be built much faster than most people think if you focus on the right things.

One of the biggest misunderstandings about confidence is the belief that confident people are naturally fearless. Not true. Most confident speakers still feel nervous before important moments. The difference is that they trust their preparation.

That trust changes everything.

So how do you build confidence quickly?

1. Practice deliberately

Not all practice is useful.

Reading your presentation silently while lying on your bed is technically practice, but it is not helping nearly as much as you think.

Deliberate practice means rehearsing intentionally.

Stand up. Use your actual speaking voice. Practice your opening repeatedly. Work on transitions. Rehearse difficult sections more than once.

Most people rehearse only the parts they already like. Professionals rehearse the uncomfortable parts until they become familiar.

Confidence grows when familiarity increases.

The more your brain recognises the material, the less energy it spends panicking.

 

2. Simulate pressure

This is where many speakers fail.

They rehearse in calm, comfortable environments and then act shocked when pressure feels different on stage.

Of course it feels different.

A real audience changes everything.

So before the event, create some pressure intentionally.

Practice in front of friends. Record yourself on video. Use a timer. Stand while rehearsing.

If possible, practice in the actual room beforehand.

Pressure should feel familiar not surprising.

One reason experienced speakers appear calm is because they have already mentally visited the moment many times before it happens.

3. Get feedback

This part is uncomfortable but powerful.

Many speakers think they are doing one thing while the audience experiences something completely different.

You may think you sound energetic when you actually sound rushed. You may think you sound calm when you actually sound flat.

Feedback closes that gap.

Ask trusted people:

• Was I clear?

• Did I rush?

• Was my message memorable?

• Did I sound confident?

The goal is not perfection.

The goal is awareness.

Good feedback accelerates growth because it removes guesswork.

Final thought

Confidence is not magic.

It is preparation repeated consistently.

Practice deliberately. Simulate pressure. Get feedback.

Do that often enough, and confidence stops feeling accidental.

You may still feel nervous occasionally. That is normal.

But your preparation will become stronger than your fear.

And once that happens, the audience can feel it.

If you would like to become a more confident speaker and communicator whether on stage, in meetings or in media interviews, send an email with the subject “STAGE.”

Stay on cue.

The post On Cue with Kafui: DEY How to build confidence fast appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.

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