Some people who look and project themselves as ultra-confident are very often not quite as they seem. It is true that in the business environment, we all make either subtle or drastic changes to fit in to the expectations of where we work. There can be a danger if we change too much from our authentic selves. Where there is a lack of fit between ourselves and the culture where we work, we can feel very uncomfortable. We then have two choices. We either ‘act it out,’ which over time becomes exhausting, or move on elsewhere where we feel we fit in better.

Ideally, in the work environment, we need to reduce the times we need to ‘act.’ People can see through it, and when it comes to communicating strategy, that is the last thing we want.

Rather than taking acting lessons or trying to be a clone of someone you know who ‘always looks super confident,’ the route to confidence is quite simple. You have to focus on being good at what you do.

When it comes to communicating strategy, what we need to be working on are our communication skills and our understanding of our strategy. Combine these two elements. Eliminate any fear of failure. Instead, develop a desire to engage with your stakeholders positively. That is what communicating strategy is all about.