5 Ways to Communicate With Confidence

5 Ways to Communicate With Confidence Communicating with confidenceis the difference between telling your boss that you need the day off and asking if it would be possible to take the day off. While you shouldnt act self-righteous or disrespect your superiors, it is important to take charge and act on what you need.It can be a hard to communicate with confidence, especially if you arent used to actively telling people how you feel and what you need. However, once you learn how to communicate confidently, youll notice an immediate difference in how others treat you for the better.1. Explain, Dont AskHow would you react if someone asked you, Can I take this day off? If its too busy or you cant make it work, thats fine?You would probably checktheschedule for that day before deciding whether or not to let that person take a day off.Now, imagine they said this instead I need to take this day off because I have a personal obligation.Youd probably act prett y differently, right? When you make a statement instead of posing a question, people tend to accept it. When you ask for a day off, you suggest it isnt a big deal if you cant take off. When you assert that you need a day off, people will assume its important.2. Know Your ValueI often see people undervaluing themselves and their success on their resumes. To communicate with confidence, you need to know your value. Dont let anyone undermine you or make you feel as though what youre communicating is unreasonable.Try to always have concrete evidence backing up what you are communicating. Try to predict and plan for possible objections or concerns in advance. If you are confident in your statement, others will be, too.3. Prepare Ahead of TimeThe key to communicating with confidence is to prepare ahead of time. Very few people feel good about going into situations unprepared. Determine your strategy ahead of time and practice what you want to say so you feel comfortable and dont stumble. You may want to practice multiple times The mora you actually say what you want to say out loud, the more comfortable you will be.Another way to prepare is to write down the pros and consof your statement. This way you can acknowledge different viewpoints but still argue in your points favor. Acknowledging others perspectives shows them you have taken various points into account and still believe your own option isbest.4. Dont Back Down If You Dont Believe Its RightPart of being an adult is admitting when youre wrong, and there is nothing bad about that. However, if you truly believe that youre right, dont back down. If you want to communicate with confidence, you need to show others that you are not second-guessing yourself. When you lose confidence in what youre saying, others will, too.5. Accept That You Dont Always Have to Say YesIts human nature to want to help others, but saying yesisnt always in your best interest. You dont have to say agree to something if you arent comforta ble with it and that includes when people ask you to take on new tasks at work. If theres too much on your plate, be clear and communicate that. No one will penalize you for wanting to do a good job with what you have already taken on. If taking on another project will cause you too much stress, politely decline.It is important to realize is that you dont owe anyone at work an explanation if you cannot do extra work that is above and beyond your original agreement. Simply saying I cannot do that should suffice. If someone prods you for more information, all you need to say is I have a lot on my plate, and I want to make sure I can do everything to the best of my ability.We all find ourselves in situations where we need to assert our wants, needs, and abilities, butdoing so can be difficult. Communicating with confidence shows others that you arent going to back down and let them choose for you. Whether you are at work, with friends, or with your family, being able to communicate wi th confidence will help you take control of your life.Michele Lando is a certified professional resume writer and the founder ofWrite Styles.