© 2020 Galvanized Media. We might be a little biased, but we think that education and online learning are great ways to do this. "Spending so much energy on disclaiming our own thoughts and opinions can end up inadvertently disempowering ourselves with our audience.". We apologize for our feelings, emotions, even our success," she says. So just be yourself and don't care about what other people think of you. This is a clear sign of a lack of confidence because "people who are confident believe they have the right to have opinions," according to Melissa Snow, a certified life coach. "But by saying 'I'm sorry' all the time, we unintentionally devalue ourselves.". This is because smiling is literally contagious. Read on to find out how you might be undermining yourself, and make sure you also ditch these 5 Words That Experts Say Make You Sound Less Confident. Confidence is a fickle thing, and it can waver easily. Remember to be yourself. "Taking a moment to smile throughout your day will chemically enhance your perception of events and make you feel more confident over time." RELATED: For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. If you are standing, place your hands on your hips or hold something in one or both of your hands. It helps to calm the nervous system and to be able to listen deeply. Looking confident can be a challenge, especially when you are feeling nervous or unsure of yourself. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 67,438 times. Isha Gupta, MD, a neurologist from IGEA Brain and Spine, explained to NBC in 2017 that through his research, he found that the simple act of smiling can produce a chemical reaction in the brain, releasing certain "happy hormones," such as dopamine and serotonin. Practice grounding your energy with daily meditation. You can hold a mug, clipboard or notepad, a pen, or something else that is appropriate for your situation. Just remember that you do not need to do this more than one time. Relevance. According to experts, this is the one habit that makes you seem less confident to others: over-apologizing. Shift your shoulders back until the pencils face forward to see how your ideal posture should be while you walk. If you appear confident, you'll feel confident. Bestlifeonline.com is part of the Meredith Health Group. If you misrepresent yourself, people will eventually figure it out. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Let's build you up instead of knocking you down. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Read on to find out how you might be undermining yourself, and make sure you also ditch these 5 Words That Experts Say Make You Sound Less Confident. But why do women apologize even when they aren't sorry? If you are seated, firmly plant your hands on the arms of a chair or on top of a table. She offers services in both one-on-one and group settings, focusing on careers, relationships, emotional well-being, and personal growth. There are better ways to do this without unnecessarily apologizing, she explains. people want to appear confident to others, 5 Words That Experts Say Make You Sound Less Confident, productivity expert and growth strategist, they don't actually have a reason to apologize, For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter, apologize for things that don't require an apology, 17 Ways You're Destroying Your Confidence and Don't Know It. This way you are politely getting your message across without apologizing, while still showing that you have confidence in the importance of your opinions—even if others disagree. Most people want to appear confident to those around them. % of people told us that this article helped them. This article has been viewed 67,438 times. If there is a table or desk in front of you, you can place your arms on the table and spread them out and away from your body. What should I do to look confident when people chase me? {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/42\/Look-Confident-Step-1.jpeg\/v4-460px-Look-Confident-Step-1.jpeg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/42\/Look-Confident-Step-1.jpeg\/aid586728-v4-728px-Look-Confident-Step-1.jpeg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"