Feel Confident on Camera – 5 Tips to Help you Confidently Pitch, Present, Network and Talk on Camera

How to be Confident on camera

Putting yourself out there is intimidating when you don’t feel confident on camera!

Learn how to look and feel confident in front of the lens. Know what to say on camera and what to talk about.

Being confident on camera is not easy. To add, confidently pitching, presenting, networking and talking on camera is intimidating!

Stepping out of your comfort zone makes many people feel anxious and nervous. If you suffer from anxiety or panic attacks, you are more shy and introvert in nature. Also, this kind of situation can quickly put you in a STATE OF FEAR.

This post is all about how to manage your fears on screen and be confident on camera. If you’d like to know more about video, click here:

I’m a social introvert – I love people – but I love my quiet time too. Also, I hate networking and being in social environments makes me really nervous.

Most of the time, I had to network for my job as a TV news editor. In addition, I often had to sit next to officials (imagine sitting next to the Chinese Foreign Minister and talking while eating a sea cucumber (which was absolutely vile and I thought it was similar to a normal cucumber!!!!)). 

As much as I tried to get out of things, there were lots of presentations that I had to give. Speeches that I had to make, and networking events that I had to go to. 

WHEN YOU FEEL SCARED: 

When you feel threatened or scared, your body’s stress response — often called the “fight or flight” response — is triggered. Also, when you are fearful, this triggers the release of cortisol. On a long-term basis, this can be harmful to your mental, cognitive, emotional and physical health and well-being. How do you move from fear to a happier, and more confident place?

Changing state is just about shaking yourself out of one way of thinking. Then, quickly you can move into a different mental space. My toddler can go from tears and tantrums to smiles at the sight of his Thomas the Tank Engine. If toddlers can do it, surely we can change states quickly too, and indeed we can…

When you were busy working and feeling stressed and then a delivery came for a beautiful bouquet of flowers from a dear friend. You would quickly smile, and feel so loved! Your state would immediately change.

Along the way, I’ve learned some strategies to help me feel more confident on camera. And I hope that the 5 “B”s will emBOLDen you.

BOOGIE:

So when you’re on your way to do that presentation or important meeting then put yourself in a good state. If you’re driving, play some music you love. And if you’re traveling on public transport, then listen to music on your headphones. And then BOOGIE! Dancing or jiggling in your seat makes you feel happy, and connects you with happy times. You instantly relax and lowers cortisol.

BATHROOM:

When you get to the venue where you’re going to present yourself or network, go to the BATHROOM. And when you’re in there, stretch out and make yourself as BIG AS POSSIBLE. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy says in her TED talk that standing in a posture of confidence and “power posing” makes a difference.

With your arms outstretched – even when you don’t feel confident — can impact testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain. Moreover, this might even affect our chances for success.

BODY LANGUAGE:

Ever really thought about the phrase… it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it… well, it’s really true.

Professor Albert Mehrabian carried out some research in 1971 that found that only 7 percent of communication is verbal…. That means that the words are only a tiny fraction of what we hear, and non-verbal communication – our BODY LANGUAGE – is much more important. He found that 93 percent of communication is all about our tone of voice, and our reading of body language.

How we communicate:

• 7%: Words (what’s actually said)
• 38%: Tone of voice (how we say the words)
• 55%: Body Language

BREATHE:

When you’re going to your meeting, or about to do that Facebook live remember to BREATHE!

Too much of the time we forget to breathe, and instead shallow breathe. This can make us come across as out of breath and anxious in meetings and less confident.

Practice yoga breathing. Deep down breathing into the lungs. And you can make the everyday act of breathing into something that reduces cortisol levels.

BE YOURSELF:

The final thing to remember when you give that presentation or sell yourself is to BE YOURSELF. People recognise authenticity, and respond to it.

If you’re nervous, say, “ooh sorry, I feel a touch nervous”, and people like your honesty. And then you blow them away with your confident and polished presentation.