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How to Communicate your opinions, ideas confidently and effectively

“How you can confidently express your opinions and ideas”

We believe that expressing our opinions and ideas confidently is crucial in both personal and professional life. Great skills require to express our opinions and ideas with confidence.  We can develop this skill over a time. It involves a mix of preparation, understanding our audience, and practicing good communication habits.

Rajeev Ranjan

We believe that expressing opinions and ideas confidently can be transformative, not just for personal growth but also for professional success. We often admire those who do so effortlessly, but the truth is, confidence can be cultivated.

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English Speaking Tips-Communication Skill in 21st Century World-
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Nine Best Practical strategies, illustrated with real-life examples, to help us communicate more confidently and effectively:

   Prepare Thoroughly to Know Your Stuff:

Wise person develops deep understanding before he voices his opinions. It’s important to be well-informed about the topic. This builds his confidence and credibility. We came to know that when Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook, advocates for women’s leadership, she backs her arguments with data and research, making her points both compelling and credible. We can consider professionals like debate moderators. They often come across as authoritative and confident because they’ve prepared extensively, ensuring they understand the topics at hand from multiple angles.

When we know our subject inside and out, confidence naturally follows. This means doing our homework before we speak, gathering facts, and understanding the context. We can consider a salesperson who studies his product details meticulously and prepares for potential customer questions. His in-depth knowledge allows him to address queries confidently and persuasively during sales pitches.

Lawyers spend countless hours preparing for cases, anticipating questions and rebuttals, which boosts their confidence in court. It’s helpful to outline our main points and anticipate potential questions. This preparation makes us feel more in control and confident.

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Practice Active Listening:

Active listening is highly demanded skill but rarely found in day-to-day life. Every one of us want to say more hear less. Wise person says, “Confident expression isn’t just about speaking; it’s also about listening.”  When we pay close attention to what others say, we can personalize our responses more effectively and engage in meaningful dialogue. We read that Nelson Mandela is habitual to listen attentively to others’ viewpoints to build consensus and develop reconciliation.

Being a good communicator isn’t just about speaking well—it’s also about listening. Mr. Ranjan is a senior manager in a reputed company. He listens to his team’s concerns and ideas before offering his own opinion. It will not only gain respect but also feel more confident in his response because it’s informed by the team’s input.

    Stay Calm and Composed:

Staying calm and composed in up and down situation as well in a normal life requires great skill. When we keep our emotions in check, it helps to maintain a clear mind and a steady voice. People say that Michelle Obama often exemplifies calmness in discussions, even when topics are argumentative, which reinforces the strength of her messages.

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    Familiarize to the Audience:

When we customize our message to our audience, it ensures that it resonates and is understood. This could be using simpler language with beginners or including more detailed data for experts. Suppose that you are tech developer. The tech developer explains a complex software to non-tech stakeholders by using analogies and avoiding jargon, making the explanation accessible and enhancing their confidence as the audience understands and engages with the content.

Teachers adapt their teaching methods based on the age and learning styles of their students, which not only makes their lessons more effective but also increases their confidence in handling diverse classrooms.

    Use Assertive Communication:

It means expressing our thoughts clearly and respectfully, without being passive or aggressive i.e. when Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, addresses issues like privacy, he states his stance clearly and assertively, reinforcing the importance of the issue without upsetting others.

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    Practice Public Speaking:

The more we practice, the more natural our delivery becomes. Everyone will agree on a point that confidence often comes with familiarity. The more we practice speaking out, especially in varied situations, the more comfortable we become with our own voice and opinions. We can start small by sharing thoughts in more casual, low-stake environments, like book clubs or with friends over coffee. Public speakers often start their careers by speaking at small local events before progressing to larger stages. This gradual increase in audience size helps build confidence slowly and sustainably.  We should regularly practice speaking in front of an audience, receiving constructive feedback that enhances our public speaking skills. Confidence grows with practice.

  Openly Accept Feedback:

We believe that constructive criticism is invaluable for improvement. Oprah Winfrey, for example, has often talked about how she uses feedback from her audience and peers to refine her approach and connect more deeply with her listeners. It’s helpful to know how our delivery is perceived. When a person asks feedback from trusted peers or mentors, he can learn about his strengths and areas for improvement. Ram Niranjan is a young engineer. He presents a project update to a small group of colleagues first for gathering feedback before presenting to senior management. This feedback loop helps refine both the message and the delivery. Writers often join critique groups where they share their work and receive feedback. This process not only improves their writing but also builds their confidence in presenting their ideas. In fact, understanding how others perceive our contributions can be invaluable.

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Use Positive Self-talk & Visualize Success:

What we think, what we behave, and what we act. When a person perceives himself succeeding can boost his confidence significantly. It is necessary to visualize succeeding before an important meeting or presentation.   Athletes like Serena Williams use visualization techniques to prepare for games, which can be similarly applied to preparing for any form of public speaking or presentation.

Entrepreneurs are known for their optimism. They often face uncertain situations yet remain positive, which not only strengthens their own confidence but also inspires confidence in their teams and investors. I personally believe that approaching situations with a positive mindset can significantly affect my confidence levels. I would like suggest that instead of dwelling on what could go wrong, we should focus on our strengths and the potential positive outcomes.

We become complete human being when our mind, soul and body work together for a task. The way we talk to ourselves impacts our confidence, therefore, encouraging self-talk can boost our self-esteem and help us approach situations more confidently.

    Adjust Body Language:

Our non-verbal cues can communicate confidence. Nonverbal cues like posture, eye contact, and gestures significantly affect how confident we appear and feel. We need to Stand tall, making eye contact, and using gestures appropriately. These positive gestures can help reinforce our words. When we observe Barack Obama at any public appearance, we notice his upright posture and direct eye contact, which project confidence and engage his audience. Mrs Mona Singh is a teacher who maintains eye contact and uses open gestures while explaining a concept; these actions not only engage students but also display confidence, making the message more impactful. Politicians are often coached on body language to appear more confident and assertive during speeches and debates.

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Confidence is built through preparation, practice, and positive engagement, allowing us to communicate more effectively and persuasively.

It’s not just about what we say, but how we say it and how well we listen to others, shaping our presence and influence in every conversation.

Expressing our opinions and ideas with confidence is a skill that we can develop over time. It involves a mix of preparation, understanding our audience, and practicing good communication habits.

Resources and References

https://www.rajeevelt.com/design-thinking-approach-to-increase-admission-school-strategies-tips/rajeev-ranjan/

https://www.rajeevelt.com/collaboration-and-teamwork-examples-for-developing-life-skills/rajeev-ranjan/