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What has helped you gain confidence in your work, especially when presenting your ideas to others who might not see your vision right away ?
What has helped you gain confidence in your work, especially when presenting your ideas to others who might not see your vision right away?
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12 answers
Jerome Dees Jr.
Sales Professional and Networking Expert
833
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Jerome’s Answer
Honestly, volunteering in the community helped me build my confidence. I started doing workshops at the local library to help other people learn to network and set goals. Over time, I would get really good messages through LinkedIn thanking me for my help and telling me how they were able to use what I showed them.
It could be easy to feel like we are a fraud sometimes, but I accepted that what I did was helpful and that changed my confidence at home and at work.
It could be easy to feel like we are a fraud sometimes, but I accepted that what I did was helpful and that changed my confidence at home and at work.
Gustavo Asman
I work as Creative Director at a strategy and communications firm that works with nonprofits
11
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Gustavo’s Answer
Hi, I think this can go in many ways, so I will share a few of the ones that I feel have either helped me or others I have worked with to present ideas confidently, even when facing folks that may have a different perspective. My thoughts would be:
-They might be right
-Be confident, but also open to listen to their take on things (it may make ideas even stronger as a result of everyone's take and collaboration)
-Prepare
-Practice. The more you plan and practice the more your presentations will flow and the confidence will grow doing so
-Don't focus on the idea itself, focus on the why behind it, the thinking that took you there. Imo this might be the most important one, whether it is colleagues, partners or clients. Sometimes it is relatively easy to end up discussing details or minor stuff, I would focus first on making sure we agree on the big picture, on the depth, on what the ideas need to achieve and why. Otherwise, you may end up trying more ideas, and the problem may have been not the idea but the fact that the thinking behind it was the thing folks did not agree with. And in that case, you can keep trying and trying, coming up with more and more ideas, and none will click.
-And share them. With folks involved or folks that may see your work, topic or ideas for the first time. What do they see? What do they understand? This may help you make them stronger... and if they made it out of it intact, I think that testing them or sharing them to get good feedback can never hurt (they either give you things to make them better,... or, if they all say they are great as they are, well, that may add to your confidence to present them to anyone)
-They might be right
-Be confident, but also open to listen to their take on things (it may make ideas even stronger as a result of everyone's take and collaboration)
-Prepare
-Practice. The more you plan and practice the more your presentations will flow and the confidence will grow doing so
-Don't focus on the idea itself, focus on the why behind it, the thinking that took you there. Imo this might be the most important one, whether it is colleagues, partners or clients. Sometimes it is relatively easy to end up discussing details or minor stuff, I would focus first on making sure we agree on the big picture, on the depth, on what the ideas need to achieve and why. Otherwise, you may end up trying more ideas, and the problem may have been not the idea but the fact that the thinking behind it was the thing folks did not agree with. And in that case, you can keep trying and trying, coming up with more and more ideas, and none will click.
-And share them. With folks involved or folks that may see your work, topic or ideas for the first time. What do they see? What do they understand? This may help you make them stronger... and if they made it out of it intact, I think that testing them or sharing them to get good feedback can never hurt (they either give you things to make them better,... or, if they all say they are great as they are, well, that may add to your confidence to present them to anyone)
Jennifer Phipps
Go To Market Sales Enablement - Microsoft Adverting
1
Answer
Bothell, Washington
Updated
Jennifer’s Answer
What has helped me gain confidence is practice! Presenting in front of others can feel daunting and overwhelming, but the more you do it, the more comfortable you will come over time. Practically speaking, when you are presenting your work - know your content cold. That means being comfortable enough with what you are presenting, that you are speaking to it, without reading your own content. As an example, if you have a Power Point presentation, don't read the words on the slide to your audience (they can read it), instead tell the story, or share the context you might not read directly on the slide. And don't be afraid to let your personality and passion shine through! When you are passionate about your topic, and you have energy for what you are presenting, you will connect more with your audience.
And lastly, pay attention to other presenters and how they make you feel. What presentations have you seen where you felt energized or interested in the ideas that were being presented? What was that presenter's style that you liked? And alternatively, what presentations have you seen that you felt were dry and boring? What was different about that presenter's style? You will start to build your own internal list of likes and dislikes that you can try to incorporate into your own presentation style.
Good luck to you in your journey!
And lastly, pay attention to other presenters and how they make you feel. What presentations have you seen where you felt energized or interested in the ideas that were being presented? What was that presenter's style that you liked? And alternatively, what presentations have you seen that you felt were dry and boring? What was different about that presenter's style? You will start to build your own internal list of likes and dislikes that you can try to incorporate into your own presentation style.
Good luck to you in your journey!
Caitlin Canton
Human Resources Manager
31
Answers
Cleveland, Ohio
Updated
Caitlin’s Answer
Practice and repetition are the ways that I gain confidence in my work. Practice both in terms of saying talking points aloud and actually doing a run through of my presentation (to myself or to a family member or colleague), and in terms of the number of times I present things to supervisors or colleagues.
I asked for their feedback and made it known that I wanted the good AND the constructive commentary. What could I improve? Was my message clear? If you knew nothing about the subject matter, did I help give enough context? Was I engaging and did I keep your attention? Then I listened and applied their feedback to the next presentation.
It's also good to remember that having people disagree with your ideas is a good thing. Your idea might have unlocked a new idea for them; that idea might be better than yours! It's important to keep in mind that you are a team, and "credit" for an idea is not what matters, the end result being something that is effective and efficient is what matters. Be open to critiques - you need them to validate that your idea is the best at this point in time. Seek out other people's perspectives and opinions. They might bring something up that you had never considered that could be a reason your idea would not work, or why it would not work for a certain demographic or audience.
I asked for their feedback and made it known that I wanted the good AND the constructive commentary. What could I improve? Was my message clear? If you knew nothing about the subject matter, did I help give enough context? Was I engaging and did I keep your attention? Then I listened and applied their feedback to the next presentation.
It's also good to remember that having people disagree with your ideas is a good thing. Your idea might have unlocked a new idea for them; that idea might be better than yours! It's important to keep in mind that you are a team, and "credit" for an idea is not what matters, the end result being something that is effective and efficient is what matters. Be open to critiques - you need them to validate that your idea is the best at this point in time. Seek out other people's perspectives and opinions. They might bring something up that you had never considered that could be a reason your idea would not work, or why it would not work for a certain demographic or audience.
Kandace Turner
Sales Optimization
6
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Kandace’s Answer
What helped me gain confidence at work, especially when presenting ideas others didn’t see right away, was having support and learning through experience.
Early in my career, my first leader truly had my back. She was tough and had high standards, but she also genuinely cared about my growth. Knowing she supported me — whether my idea landed perfectly or needed work — gave me the confidence to speak up. Because I felt supported, I actually worked harder and pushed myself more. Her feedback helped me learn how to think through ideas better, explain them clearly, and grow from mistakes instead of fearing them. I now think of that when helping those on my team succeed and grow!
Over time, a few other things helped build that confidence too. PREPARATION matters — when you’ve done the work and understand your idea deeply, it’s easier to stand behind it. I also learned that not everyone seeing your vision right away doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea; it just means they need more context. Asking questions, listening to feedback, and being open to adjusting your approach makes your ideas stronger.
Most importantly, I stopped tying my confidence to being “right.” Confidence comes from being willing to share your ideas, learn from feedback, and keep going. Every time you speak up, you build that muscle — and it gets easier with practice.
Early in my career, my first leader truly had my back. She was tough and had high standards, but she also genuinely cared about my growth. Knowing she supported me — whether my idea landed perfectly or needed work — gave me the confidence to speak up. Because I felt supported, I actually worked harder and pushed myself more. Her feedback helped me learn how to think through ideas better, explain them clearly, and grow from mistakes instead of fearing them. I now think of that when helping those on my team succeed and grow!
Over time, a few other things helped build that confidence too. PREPARATION matters — when you’ve done the work and understand your idea deeply, it’s easier to stand behind it. I also learned that not everyone seeing your vision right away doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea; it just means they need more context. Asking questions, listening to feedback, and being open to adjusting your approach makes your ideas stronger.
Most importantly, I stopped tying my confidence to being “right.” Confidence comes from being willing to share your ideas, learn from feedback, and keep going. Every time you speak up, you build that muscle — and it gets easier with practice.
Fatima Nixon
Program Lead
9
Answers
London, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Fatima’s Answer
Ensuring I'm prepared for a presentation helps me. I will write up a presentation/notes - whatever is suitable for the audience. And I'll typically share this with my manager and present to them to see if my thoughts are clear and my 'ask' from the audience is specific. I also practice running through the presentation so any words or items that I feel I may struggle with in front of an audience are rehearsed beforehand. Hearing yourself talk out loud and making a mistake helps with my muscle memory, so I take the time on items/vocabulary that I think I may find challenging. Typically, I don't repeat a mistake/error when I then present the thoughts with the key audience.
I also try to keep the request simple and see if I can scale back initially and then possibly build on my suggestion at a later point. This sometimes helps if the expectation is that the audience will not be willing to sign up to a suggestion immediately.
I also try to keep the request simple and see if I can scale back initially and then possibly build on my suggestion at a later point. This sometimes helps if the expectation is that the audience will not be willing to sign up to a suggestion immediately.
Carmen Figueroa
Magazine
3
Answers
Laurens, South Carolina
Updated
Carmen’s Answer
What has helped me gain confidence in my work the most is staying connected to my purpose and being clear about why I do what I do. When I share my ideas, I know that not everyone will immediately see my vision, and that's okay. The key has been to prepare well, speak from experience, and trust the results I've already achieved. Also, remembering that I'm not here to convince everyone, but to connect with those who truly resonate with my message, has given me a lot of peace and confidence. Grettings
Marlene Galvan
performance and accountability
7
Answers
Chandler, Arizona
Updated
Marlene’s Answer
Believe in what your vision is. Don't give up when someone doesn't agree with you or can't see your vision. Have supporting data to back up your vision.
Vidya Bhaskaran
HR Business Partner
3
Answers
Kochi, Kerala, India
Updated
Vidya’s Answer
Think about how you can show others your vision by focusing on what benefits them. Make sure you clearly explain why your message matters. Use simple language that everyone can understand. Share stories and examples to make your point stronger. Believe in your message, and others will too.
Stacy Magdaluyo
People Analytics Director
3
Answers
San Diego, California
Updated
Stacy’s Answer
1) First, get really familiar with the idea, the talking points, and what I want them to remember at the end of the day.
2) Second, shorten what you want to say to a paragraph. It’s important that they know what the “punchline” is. Then you can spend the rest of the time giving details.
3) Third, consider starting off with a meaningful story. Can you get your idea across by using a person to illustrate it? What challenge did this person have, and how did your idea help him/her/them?
4) Lastly, after you know exactly what you’re going to say, take a step back and put yourself in their shoes. What “curveball” questions might they ask? Be ready to answer them, or even weave them into your presentation. “You might be thinking…X. That is a great question, and here’s what I’d say…” It shows that you understand where they are coming from and can anticipate their needs/concerns.
2) Second, shorten what you want to say to a paragraph. It’s important that they know what the “punchline” is. Then you can spend the rest of the time giving details.
3) Third, consider starting off with a meaningful story. Can you get your idea across by using a person to illustrate it? What challenge did this person have, and how did your idea help him/her/them?
4) Lastly, after you know exactly what you’re going to say, take a step back and put yourself in their shoes. What “curveball” questions might they ask? Be ready to answer them, or even weave them into your presentation. “You might be thinking…X. That is a great question, and here’s what I’d say…” It shows that you understand where they are coming from and can anticipate their needs/concerns.
Michael Rill
Program Management
5
Answers
Redmond, Washington
Updated
Michael’s Answer
Gaining confidence in my work has had less to do with talking louder and more to do with listening better. A lot of leadership is about curiosity, really trying to understand where others are coming from. When someone doesn’t see my vision right away, the most effective approach isn’t to push harder on my point of view, but to pause and ask questions.
By understanding their perspective, I can tailor my ideas so they connect with what matters to them. That way, it’s less about “convincing” and more about building relevance together. It takes practice and patience to do this well, but over time it gets easier. With that practice comes the ability to “read the room,” and that’s where real confidence starts to grow.
By understanding their perspective, I can tailor my ideas so they connect with what matters to them. That way, it’s less about “convincing” and more about building relevance together. It takes practice and patience to do this well, but over time it gets easier. With that practice comes the ability to “read the room,” and that’s where real confidence starts to grow.
Laura E. Lin
People Intelligence & Analytics Manager
12
Answers
Quincy, Massachusetts
Updated
Laura E.’s Answer
Great question! Feeling confident in your work can make all the difference for a strong presentation. Preparing when you have the time is helpful to build your comfort talking about your work and tailor a presentation to an audience. If you've planned ahead how to talk about something, you don't have to come up with it on the fly and can also consider potential questions ahead of time. When I'm presenting on a data analysis, I try to start by thinking about what my audience needs to know - am I teaching a new concept? Is this an audience that benefits from the big highlights and next steps, or one where getting very specific on my methodology is more helpful?
If you have a vision for what you're doing, share that! If your audience doesn't see your vision yet, that just means you have an opportunity to get them on the same page as you. Remember that you know the most about your work and you are its best promoter. Good luck!
If you have a vision for what you're doing, share that! If your audience doesn't see your vision yet, that just means you have an opportunity to get them on the same page as you. Remember that you know the most about your work and you are its best promoter. Good luck!