How to Speak on Camera with Confidence

[00:00:00] Chris Schwager: Alright, this one's about how to speak on camera without sounding slow, stiff, or boring. Is that you, are you not quite confident, not charismatic? Well, maybe it's just about being watchable. Um, 'cause what [00:00:15] usually happens when people hit record, it's a little bit of panic. It's a bit of restraint. They tighten their voice, they slow everything down, they stop moving.

[00:00:27] Chris Schwager: And they accidentally drain that [00:00:30] life out of the message, you know? And in this episode, I just wanna show you why that happens and what's really going on in your body, in your head, and the. Thing you can start doing immediately so [00:00:45] that, uh, the thing moves more like yourself on video, no tricks, no hype, just a practical shift that makes the camera feel less awkward for you and a lot more familiar in your brain.

[00:00:57] Chris Schwager: Hi, I'm Chris Wagger, video coach and founder of the [00:01:00] Complete Video Success System, and I've spent decades helping professionals create high impact videos that build trust, generate leads, and drive business success. And if you've ever felt unsure or under prepared. Or just play an awkward with video. This is for you.

[00:01:13] Chris Schwager: I'll give you the mindset and [00:01:15] strategies to take control, build video confidence so that you show up like a pro. It's time to make your videos work for you. So what usually happens on camera isn't so much about nerves. It's funnily enough, it's a little bit of boredom. [00:01:30] 'cause your voice, when your voice tightens and you slow right down and you stop moving, your hands are glued to the chair, your face is locked in, your energy's gone.

[00:01:41] Chris Schwager: Suddenly you become dull. Not because you are dull, but [00:01:45] because you're trying to behave in a certain way. And most people really do hate being on camera. And it's simple. They hate. How they look. They hate how they sound because it's so unfamiliar to [00:02:00] you, and that's why so many people search for how to speak on camera and still feel stuck after watching all those tips.

[00:02:06] Chris Schwager: So the internal commentary in your brain, it starts in a. Is my message always like that? Do I really look [00:02:15] like this? Am I moving like that? And what happens next is that they pull that handbrake on their personality so it becomes less movement, less expression, less presence. So nobody there to give you a little prod [00:02:30] and fucking, come on, come on, get that energy back up.

[00:02:34] Chris Schwager: So that's when the video dies. And here's the important part, the way you show up on video equals who shows up in your business. And if you are [00:02:45] tight and cautious and muted on camera, that's the version. People meet first. Oh, no. And if you ever wondered how to speak on camera without sounding flat or forgettable.

[00:02:59] Chris Schwager: This is the [00:03:00] shift. I'm gonna give it to you right now, my Christmas wish for you. The camera doesn't make you awkward. It's the unfamiliarity. That's what you're exposed to. You don't sound strange, you just sound unused to hearing yourself. You don't look [00:03:15] stiff. You're stiff because your core focus is just to get it right and the fix isn't mindset hacks or confidence tricks.

[00:03:23] Chris Schwager: It's just wraps. It's reps. Repetition is the mother of skill. You don't [00:03:30] go to a gym and immediately pick out one of the machines and start lifting the heaviest possible weight without understanding why you're doing it and what muscles is actually helping you with. You start on the slower weights, on the smaller weights, and you work your way up, and that's [00:03:45] the real answer to how to speak on camera with confidence.

[00:03:48] Chris Schwager: The more often you record, the more your nervous system settles, your voice loosens, your body moves again, and that rhythm. Comes back. So here's your [00:04:00] takeaway for this episode. Stop trying to sound confident. Start getting more familiar. Move when you speak. Use your hands if you need to. Not crazy like Talladega Knot.

[00:04:11] Chris Schwager: What do I do with my hands? Just let 'em go. [00:04:15] Focus on your face, your eyes, your mouth, your voice, and let your face do what it normally does. And this isn't about being polished. It's about you doing the reps, and over time, being more recognizable to your audience because the way you show up on video equals who [00:04:30] shows up in your business.

[00:04:31] Chris Schwager: Record, stop, repeat. And that's how it gets easier.