How to make people think you’re way more confident than you are

CONFIDENCE is the key to becoming successful at pretty much anything in life. The problem is, many of us don’t have it. Here’s how to pretend until you do.

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CONFIDENCE is the key to becoming successful at pretty much anything in life.

This includes approaching women, giving a killer presentation, and starting a business, just to name a few. Reason being that women only want to date guys who are sure of themselves, people only want to listen to a presenter who sounds like they know what they’re talking about, and investors only want to invest in companies run by competent leaders.

Confidence is not necessarily something we are all born with, but definitely something everyone can obtain. I had very little of it when I was younger, but through various stressful experiences and interactions, I was able to gain greater faith in myself. Many times I am asked, “How are you so confident?” Truth be told, although I’m a very self-assured guy, I exude even more confidence than I really have. Here is how you can come off as ridiculously confident, even if you aren’t ... yet.

Always try to close the deal.

DRESS SHARP

Guys who are insecure often worry about “overdressing,” while confident guys never fear such a thing. These men understand that dressing sharp is a way to project power, and so are not concerned if people think they’re trying too hard or not. You should always strive to be one of the best dressed men in the room. Wear fitted clothes that reflect maturity and style. But be sure to learn the difference between dressing sharp and dressing flashy.

SPEAK WELL

The ability to speak clearly and assertively is a sign of confidence. If you are doing it correctly, then you shouldn’t have to repeat yourself often, but also make sure you don’t come off as overly “loud.” Be concise. Rambling only makes you sound unsure of the subject of discussion. While you should do your best to expand your vocabulary, you should also become more selective about which words you use.

Never let your inexperience show.

UNAPOLOGETIC BODY LANGUAGE

Many times your body language can say more about your confidence level than any form of verbal communication. Always make eye contact; not looking someone in the eye shows insecurity. Walk confidently and maintain good posture. Give firm handshakes and tight hugs. Lastly and most importantly, smile. The way you literally carry yourself can exponentially increase how much confidence you project.

NEVER COME OFF AS INEXPERIENCED

Never let your inexperience show, even when you are inexperienced. The first time you get in the end zone, act like you’ve been there before. If you’re dating a girl who’s totally out of your league, act like you’ve dated plenty of women like her. When a client asks if you can deliver on something you don’t exactly know how to do, say you can deliver and learn how. There is nothing wrong with a little “faking it ‘til you make it.”

Always make eye contact.

BRAG HUMBLY

Arrogant guys brag excessively. Confident guys do it just enough, and they do it humbly. If you have an accolade that you want to mention in a conversation, ask a leading question that will introduce the topic. You want to talk about your awesome job? Ask the person of interest what they do for a living so that they can ask you the question in return. I like to say that I’m not bragging, I’m simply answering questions.

LISTEN MORE THAN YOU TALK

Talking too much is a sign of arrogance and/or insecurity. Listening more than you speak projects confidence for two reasons 1.) You’re confident with your word choices and don’t need to say too much 2.) You’re confident enough to let the other person speak without having to immediately jump in. Be careful to not be too quiet; if you don’t speak enough you may come off as hesitant or scared. Say enough to make your point and nothing more.

Listening more than you speak projects confidence.

CLOSE THE DEAL

Whether you’re approaching a woman at a bar or you’re making a sales pitch, always try to close the deal. Or else, what’s the point? I’ve seen too many of my friends successfully approach a woman but get too nervous to ask them for their number. I’ve received terrible sales pitches where they didn’t even try to make a sale. If you approach a woman, ask her out to dinner. If you’re giving a sales pitch, ask them how much they want to order.

FAILURE ISN’T AN OPTION

Whenever you go to close the deal, you should act as if failure isn’t an option. Of course we all fear it, but we sure don’t have to show it. When I’m out and I ask a woman to dance, I act as if it’s almost impossible for them to say anything but yes. And If you’re in a job interview, act like there is no candidate better for the job. Failure will be always be a possibility, however it’s much more likely to happen if you let it be an option.

This article originally appeared on AskMen and was republished with permission.

Originally published as How to make people think you’re way more confident than you are