Voice of Influence: How to Project Confidence and Authority

The most confident person can have difficulties speaking in public. The same is true if you are giving a presentation on Zoom or Skype. Here are some proven methods for being perceived as an authority in your field. You are seen as a confident public speaker who looks at ease and is comfortable in front of an audience.

 

Dress for Confidence

 

Do you have a power suit? What is an article of clothing you wear that makes you feel confident and capable? That's what you want to wear when you speak in public. You should dress appropriately for the situation but also wear clothes that make you feel in control and confident.

 

Ask Your Audience for Input Beforehand

 

Knowing what your listeners want to hear can lead to more confidence. You won't get caught off guard with a question you aren't prepared for. Ask your audience what questions they want answered in your presentation. Let them know you appreciate any input. This helps you feel more confident for a couple of reasons. 

 

Your audience immediately respects you. You asked them for their help, and they will appreciate that. It also gives you a list of things you need to research or otherwise understand before giving your speech.

 

Have Someone Introduce You

 

Do you have any titles or accreditations relevant to the presentation you will be giving? What experiences do you know your audience will be interested in? People will perceive you as a more confident and capable speaker when someone they respect introduces you.

 

Your audience should be able to identify the person who welcomes you to the speaking event. It is all the better if the person who introduces you is famous or has succeeded in a way that relates to your audience or subject matter. You are seen as a person of achievement who commands respect when a respected authority introduces you to a relevant field.

 

Go Virtual with Your Presentation 

 

Public speaking is tough. What if you took the whole "public" out of the experience? You are still communicating live with your audience. Except when you go virtual, you can do it from the stress-relieving comfort of your own home. You go virtual with your speech instead of standing before a group of people in a live, in-person environment. That can go a long way to making you feel comfortable.

 

Record Your Speech Instead of Going Live

 

How comfortable and at ease will you feel with an audience of zero? Record your speech, and you can repeat the process as many times as you need until you get it right. That doesn't happen with an in-person presentation. You have only one chance for success, which can put much pressure on you. Record your presentation rather than giving it in a person-to-person format if that's an option.

 

You should practice for perfection. Get to know your material inside and out. Then, you use these tips for a better public speaking experience and will be perceived as a confident authority figure in your field.

 

Speak with Impact: Techniques to Captivate Your Audience

A captivated audience is interested and engaged. They are happy to be in your presence, possibly even excited about the experience. The following tips make it possible to become a captivating speaker that mesmerizes your audience and keeps them coming back for more.

 

Ask Questions

 

One way to generate engagement is to ask questions. People love giving their opinions. Ask them what they think. When they respond, applaud them for the question they asked. Telling them it is a great question builds rapport. 

 

The definition of captivation is a state of intense interest. Your audience will stay interested when you allow them to provide input. Asking questions is also a way to direct your listeners' interest to a particular topic.

 

Compliment Your Audience

 

"Thank you for bringing up that point, Susan." 

"That's a great question, Bill, and I am glad you asked it." 

"You must be a mind reader. That's exactly what I was going to address next."

 

Those are some compliments you can give your audience. Anything that makes a person feel good about the experience you offer will boost their interest in what you have to say. You can compliment their articles of clothing or recent achievements when you meet your audience members before your presentation or make some relevant, complimentary statement while you are speaking.

 

Announce an Unadvertised Bonus for Sticking around for the Whole Speech

 

Announce this at the beginning of your speech. Be very profuse with your thanks. Express genuine gratitude for everyone attending. Then, tell them you would like to show your gratitude by giving them a gift if they stick around until the end of your presentation.

 

Make this bonus relevant to what you're speaking about. You can capture the attention of your audience when this reward is unadvertised. It is a pleasant surprise. Don't discuss the details of the bonus; the imagination of your audience will keep them engaged throughout your presentation.

 

Paint a Picture with Powerful Emotions

 

The best salespeople will tell you to sell the sizzle, not the steak. You don't talk about the features of the product. Instead, you focus the attention on the benefits of the product that trigger powerful emotions. This means creating an emotional experience as a speaker.

 

Tell your audience to imagine an amazing reality. Use words that evoke emotion. If you use a statistic to prove a point, follow it up with an explanation of how that information leads to a powerfully positive experience. Paint pictures with your words. Tell stories instead of just mindlessly chattering on. The more emotions you can stir up, the more captivated your audience will be.

 

Captivating speakers are not born. They are made. You can become an enthralling speaker if you work at it. These tips help you cast a spell over your audience so they stay fully engaged and interested in your words.

 

Steps to Declutter Your Space Without Overwhelm

Having a cluttered space, whether it’s your office desk or your home (or both) can feel overwhelming. If you have stuff everywhere and no idea of what you have, it can feel impossible to deal with and out of control. 

 

Here are some tips to help you take back control of your space and declutter.

 

Commit to a Goal

 

Part of the overwhelm is due to feeling you have to deal with all the stuff straightaway. You don’t. You just need a plan and a commitment to sort and throw away a reasonable amount of stuff every day. Once you’ve done your daily ration, you’ll feel so much better because you’re getting on with it in a systematic way.

 

Do a Clean Sweep

 

Take a box of garbage bags and do a walk-through your home and just pick up anything that’s garbage like circulars, newspapers, wrappers. With the trash out of the way, you can get on with the real decluttering. 

 

Do One Room or Area at a Time

 

Depending on how you’re feeling, this could be the worst room or the one that isn’t too bad.  If it’s your worst room, choose one area to declutter, maybe the dining table or the kitchen counter. Maybe even one closet. Just keep it manageable.

 

Have a Purge Box

 

A purge box or a donation station can be a cardboard box or bag where you can put things for charity and donate every week or so. Keep up the momentum of things leaving the house!

 

Set a Timer

 

You’re not trying to organize your entire home in one go, but perhaps even tackling one room or area might feel overwhelming. In that case get a kitchen timer, set it for 15 or 20 minutes, and work only for that long to keep things feeling manageable. You can face doing anything for 15 minutes.

 

Start Small

 

Start with the things that you won’t have any doubt about keeping. Anything broken or out-of-date can go straight into the trash. Clothes that are outgrown or never worn, that waffle machine or juicer you never use, ornaments you resent dusting – they can all go without a look back.

 

Don’t Feel Guilty

 

Permit yourself to declutter. It’s your space, and there’s no need to feel guilty about getting rid of stuff that’s no longer useful.  As you’re sorting, you can ask yourself some basic questions to see if the thing deserves a place in your life:

• Have I used or worn this in the last year? If not, get rid of it.

• Do I love it?

• Do I have the space to store it?

• Am I willing to throw something else out to make room for it?

• Can I see myself or anyone else in the family ever using it or loving it in the future? Really?

 

How Getting Organized Saves Time and Money

Is your apartment a mess? Are you always losing things like your keys or your phone? Can you find those important documents at tax time? Are you always doing things at the last minute because you can’t find what you need to complete a task? Take back control of your space and get organized!

 

Being organized is learning the process of arranging things and keeping them in order. And being organized and tidy is not just a good thing because your mom told you so! It saves you time and money and lets you get on with doing the things you want to do.

 

Here are six reasons why being organized is important.

 

You Will Have More Time

 

Being messy and disorganized is a major time-suck. How much time have you wasted looking through a cluttered closet looking for that other shoe? Or that important letter that you know you put on the kitchen counter and now can’t found? It’s better to spend some time assigning a proper place for everything and making sure you put things in the right place.

 

You’ll Be More Efficient

 

An organized home with a clear place for everything runs much more smoothly. Instead of a huge clean-up every few months, a system of putting things away in the proper place keeps things under control. Even basic things like laundry will work better if everyone knows where the dirty clothes go, and where to put clean items when once folded. 

 

You Can Prioritize

 

If your desk, workspace or apartment is tidy, important projects or tasks can be easily seen, and not lost in an undifferentiated clutter. You can see what needs doing and can get on with it, instead of panicking about all the stuff you have to do. 

 

You’ll Save Money

 

If you don’t have a clear idea of what you have, you’re much more vulnerable to impulse buying, and you’ll end up with multiples of things. That is not just an unnecessary expenditure because it’s also wasteful and bad for the environment. Knowing what you have and what you need means you can make thoughtful purchases, save money and avoid debt.

 

You’ll Be Calmer

 

Let’s face it. Clutter is stressful. Living in chaos and mess is frustrating and annoying. An ordered space is much calmer and is a real refuge from a stressful world. 

 

It’s Healthier

 

Clutter is not just stressful, but it can be unhygienic too. A messy home is hard to clean. Those piles of books, papers, and dirty plates will attract bugs, rodents, spiders, and snakes. At the very least they will get dusty! A tidy and ordered space will be clean and pest-free. 

 

Simple Habits for Staying Organized

Getting organized is one thing, staying organized is another challenge altogether. If you want to stay in control of your life, you need to form a few simple habits to change the way you think about your ‘stuff.’

 

Here are seven easy ways to stay organized.

 

Make the Bed

 

Making your bed every day is a small but easily overlooked task that will make you feel instantly more organized and your bedroom look neat. Whatever else happens in your day, at least you’ve made your bed.

 

Clean Up the Kitchen and Straighten the House

 

Do the dishes, clean up the kitchen and do a quick tidy of the living areas of your home each evening, and you will finish the day with the right mindset for keeping the rest of your life organized.

 

Stay on Task

 

Finish one task before you start the next one. Multitasking is overrated and wastes your energy. By trying to do too much at once, you risk getting exhausted and never actually finishing anything. Focusing on one thing at a time will keep you calm, and soon you’ll have a bunch of checks on your to-do list. 

 

Use Your Downtime

 

Add up all those minutes of waiting during your day, and you have quite a lot of time when you just hang around. Whether it’s waiting for the coffee maker to brew or the washer to go on spin cycle, you can use this time to do little tasks like empty or load the dishwasher, wipe down the counters or sort through the mail.

 

Keep Synched

 

Make sure your family’s smartphones and devices talk to one another and that calendars are kept synced. You will not miss appointments, and everyone will know what’s happening and what’s coming up. 

 

Stay On Top of Emails

 

Schedule part of your day to deal with emails, so your inbox doesn’t get out of control. Aim for zero email by the end of the day by using filters and tagging, and don’t procrastinate, just respond to emails straight away. 

 

Stay On Top of Paperwork

 

Work out a system to deal with the tide of papers that come into your home and stick to it. Action, scan and file important papers, and throw away or recycle hard copies. Make dealing with paperwork part of your evening tidy up, and you will never have piles of unsorted papers again.

The Tale of the Unfinished Tower

In a lively town by the sea, there was a mason named Paolo who was known for his talent but also for his tendency to avoid responsibility when things went wrong. Paolo was skilled in his craft, and the townspeople admired his beautiful stonework, but many whispered that he was unreliable when projects ran into trouble. Whenever mistakes were made or work was delayed, Paolo would always blame others—the weather, the tools, or the workers under him—never taking responsibility for his own actions.

 

One day, the mayor of the town announced a grand project: a tall lighthouse to guide ships safely into the harbor. It was to be the tallest tower in the region, a symbol of the town’s prosperity and an essential beacon for sailors. The mayor entrusted Paolo with the task of building the lighthouse, knowing that his skill with stone was unmatched. Paolo eagerly accepted, seeing the project as an opportunity to showcase his talents and earn more fame.

 

Work on the lighthouse began, and at first, everything went smoothly. Paolo directed the workers, and the tower began to rise, its stone walls gleaming in the sun. But as the tower grew taller, so did the challenges. The stones became heavier, and the winds at higher elevations made the work more dangerous and difficult.

 

One day, as the workers were hoisting a large stone into place, the pulley system broke, sending the stone crashing to the ground. Several other stones were damaged in the process, and the tower’s progress was delayed. When the mayor came to inspect the site and asked Paolo what had happened, Paolo quickly blamed the workers. “They were careless,” he said. “It wasn’t my fault.”

 

The mayor frowned but accepted Paolo’s explanation, trusting that he would ensure the mistake was corrected.

 

As the weeks went on, more problems arose. The mortar in some sections of the tower began to crack, and Paolo’s measurements for the next level of stones were off, causing a misalignment in the tower’s structure. Each time an issue occurred, Paolo deflected blame. When the mortar cracked, he blamed the supplier for providing poor-quality materials. When the tower’s alignment was off, he blamed the tools, saying they weren’t accurate enough. But never once did Paolo take responsibility for overseeing the work closely or ensuring that everything was done properly.

 

One evening, after another day of delays, Paolo returned to the site alone, frustrated by the problems plaguing the project. As he stood at the base of the unfinished tower, an old sailor approached him. The sailor had lived in the town for many years and had seen many projects come and go. He looked up at the tower and then at Paolo, who appeared lost in thought.

 

“Seems the tower’s been giving you some trouble,” the sailor said.

 

Paolo sighed. “Yes, but it’s not my fault. The workers are careless, the materials are faulty, and the tools aren’t good enough.”

 

The sailor raised an eyebrow. “That may be so,” he said, “but I’ve been watching this project from the docks. It seems to me that when things go wrong, you’re always quick to point the finger at someone else. A good captain takes responsibility for his ship, even when the storm isn’t his fault.”

 

Paolo frowned, unsure of what the sailor was getting at.

 

The sailor continued, “When I’m out at sea and something goes wrong with my ship, I can’t blame the wind or the waves. I have to adjust my sails, make repairs, and guide my crew. If I fail to do that, the ship doesn’t just suffer—it sinks. Accountability isn’t about avoiding blame; it’s about taking responsibility and making things right.”

 

Paolo was silent for a moment, realizing that the sailor was right. He had been so focused on protecting his reputation and avoiding blame that he hadn’t taken responsibility for the problems on the project. If he had been more diligent in overseeing the work, if he had taken the time to fix mistakes rather than blame others, the tower might have been further along—and stronger.

 

The next morning, Paolo returned to the construction site with a new resolve. He gathered the workers and apologized for blaming them for the delays. He took responsibility for the mistakes that had been made and promised to oversee the project more closely from then on. He personally inspected the materials, adjusted the plans to fix the alignment issues, and worked alongside the crew to ensure that everything was done correctly.

 

With Paolo taking accountability for the project, the work improved dramatically. The workers respected him more for admitting his mistakes and working to correct them. Slowly but surely, the lighthouse rose higher and higher until it was finally completed. The tower stood tall and strong, a beacon of light guiding ships safely into the harbor.

 

When the mayor came to inspect the finished lighthouse, he praised Paolo for his hard work and dedication. And though Paolo felt pride in his accomplishment, he knew that the real lesson he had learned was the importance of accountability. By taking responsibility for his actions and guiding the project with care, he had not only completed the lighthouse but also earned the respect of the entire town.

 

Moral:

 

Accountability means taking responsibility for our actions, even when things go wrong. When we own our mistakes and work to correct them, we gain respect, improve ourselves, and ultimately succeed in our endeavors.

The Benefits of Keeping a Journal

Consider starting a journal if you're looking for a simple and effective way to improve your mental and emotional well-being. Regular journaling has been shown to help with stress reduction, increased mindfulness, and even better sleep. Plus, it's a great tool for self-reflection and creativity. Here are nine benefits of keeping a journal.

 

1. It Improves Your Mental Health

 

Journaling helps you track different emotions you may be experiencing. It helps you to process your feelings. It allows you to dive deep into your psyche to understand what is causing the different conflicts in your mind.

 

2. It Boosts Your Emotional Intelligence 

 

Journaling opens you up to greater self-discovery so that you understand your reactions, strengths, and weaknesses. It will help you read your own emotions while boosting your empathy toward others. 

 

3. It Helps You Achieve Your Goals 

 

A goal is only worth the paper it is written on. Keeping a journal allows you to write down and track your goals. This act tells your subconscious that your goals are important and makes them much more attainable. 

 

4. It Increases Your Memory and Retention 

 

When you write something down, your mind composes ideas into words, and this helps cement them into your mind. Regularly keeping a journal will strengthen your ability to retain and remember more information. 

 

5. It Strengthens Your Self-Discipline  

 

When you commit to keeping a daily journal, you are exhibiting self-discipline. When you open that journal and write on a busy day or a day you don't feel like writing, you are proving to yourself that you can be and stay disciplined. 

 

6. It Will Improve Your Communication Skills 

 

Writing is a major part of your communication arsenal. Regularly keeping a journal will boost your writing skills. Journaling strengthens your ability to pull your thoughts together and express them coherently to others. 

 

7. It Can Spark Your Creativity 

 

Stream of conscious writing unlocks your mind's creative juices. It helps you overcome writer's block and develop ideas and thoughts. You may even discover the answer to a problem you have been trying to solve!

 

8. It Can Enhance Your Critical Thinking Skills 

 

Writing down your thoughts can help you assess any situation you are dealing with. Journaling enables you to work out problems that may be cluttered in your mind. It also gives your mind ways to evaluate new issues that arise in the future.

 

9. It Helps Alleviate Stress 

 

Journaling can help you cope and reduce the impact of a stressful event. It enables you to process emotions and discover ways to handle the stress of certain situations. It may even help you avoid burnout and decrease your anxiety. 

 

Fast Action Steps

 

1. Purchase a notebook that fits your needs. It can be a spiral-bound notebook or a hardcover version.

 

2. Schedule time in your calendar for journaling. Start with 10 or 15 minutes and show up every day. 

 

3. Look up journaling prompts on the Internet and make a list. This can help you write when you don't know what to put down on paper.