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Dr. Shadé ZahraiDr. Shadé Zahrai

5 Ways to Look More Confident – When You're Struggling To | Shade Zahrai

Research shows that confidence is crucial in the workplace. Those who exude confidence are generally perceived as more competent and are more likely to be considered for leadership or promotion opportunities. Feeling confident is important because it contributes to increased productivity and risk-taking that can lead to career advancement. But, it's not just about how you 'feel'. The external appearance of confidence is equally crucial, because those who appear confident, instil confidence in others. They're generally more likely to secure a promotion and opportunities and are more influential, even if others may have accomplished more yet lack perceived confidence. And here's the good news– While some believe that confidence is an innate trait (and there's some degree of truth to that), it's also a skill that can be acquired through learning. In this video I share 5 simple research-based tips to help you exude greater confidence. This is especially helpful if you're an introvert, or you know you're doing great work but you're not being recognized for it. _______________ Free Career Training: https://www.shadezahrai.com/cct-registration To find out more about Shadé, visit the website: https://www.shadezahrai.com Follow her on: • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shadezahrai/ • TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@shadezahrai • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shadezahraispeaker • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shadezahrai

Dr. Shadé Zahraihost
May 9, 20216mWatch on YouTube ↗

At a glance

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

Five research-backed cues to project confidence at work daily

  1. Confidence affects career outcomes because people who appear confident are often judged as more competent and leadership-ready, regardless of actual performance.
  2. Confidence is framed as a learnable skill with two components—how you feel internally and how you come across externally—with appearance often driving workplace recognition.
  3. Five practical behaviors are presented to increase perceived confidence: strong posture, smiling, slower clearer speech, purposeful walking, and consistent eye contact.
  4. Research findings are referenced to show that body language and delivery can shift both observer perceptions (status, competence) and the speaker’s physiological/emotional state (stress vs power).

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

Perceived confidence can matter more than felt confidence at work.

Even if you feel capable, soft delivery or closed body language can prevent others from reading you as leadership-ready; the video emphasizes managing outward signals to get noticed.

Use an “open posture” routine to instantly look and feel more powerful.

Stand tall, roll shoulder blades down and back, lift the chin, and keep your gaze forward; the cited research links closed posture with higher stress hormones and lower feelings of power.

Smiling is a fast way to look composed and sound better.

Smiling triggers endorphins that can lift mood and, per the public-speaking expert cited, makes your voice more pleasant while signaling approachability and confidence.

Slow down your speech to signal control and credibility.

Speeding up commonly broadcasts nerves; speaking clearly with deliberate pacing and well-placed pauses helps listeners follow you and reads as calm authority.

Your walk communicates status—pace and stride subtly change how you’re judged.

Research on movement patterns suggests faster walking is associated with higher perceived status; slightly longer, purposeful steps (without exaggeration) can boost presence.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

Confidence is an incredibly important skill because research tells us that at work, people who come across as more confident are also perceived to be more competent.

— Dr. Shadé Zahrai

In fact, appearing confident is probably even more important than feeling confident, because you could feel all the confidence in the world, but if you're naturally softly spoken and reserved, it's unfortunately not going to project the confidence that's needed to get you noticed.

— Dr. Shadé Zahrai

A 2010 study by researchers from Harvard and Columbia universities found that closed body language like slouching and hanging your head actually lowers your testosterone, raises your cortisol, the stress hormone, and makes you feel less powerful.

— Dr. Shadé Zahrai

Smiling actually activates the muscles in your face that tell your brain to release endorphins, our happy hormones.

— Dr. Shadé Zahrai

According to Lillian Glass, a body language expert and author of The Body Language Advantage, strong eye contact is the single greatest indicator of confidence.

— Dr. Shadé Zahrai

Confidence vs perceived confidence in promotionsPower posture and open body languageSmiling and vocal pleasantnessSpeaking pace, pauses, and composureWalking speed, stride length, and status cuesEye contact in-person and on video callsNonverbal signals and workplace competence perception

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