Confidence matters for real estate agents. Whether it’s speaking in front of a group of other agents or a simple presentation of a listing to prospective clients, it’s important that you come off as being assured so people appreciate you’re an expert in what you’re talking about.

The problem is that not everyone is naturally confident, but the good news is there are several, subtle ways you can appear so while speaking with authority. The following five tips will help you do just that:

Dress to impress:

When speaking in public you need to dress to impress. Consider two factors when choosing an outfit, namely your audience and the venue you’ll be speaking at. The setting and the audience will likely have a big influence on what you should wear – for example, if you’re speaking to a group at a construction site, you’ll probably want to dress differently than if you were going to an event at a five star hotel.

Stand up straight:

Proper posture, in other words standing up straight, gives the impression of confidence and authority. However at some meetings you might be sitting at a table, in which case you need to sit up straight with some refinements, depending on the situation - leaning in with your arms resting on the top will make you appear interested, while leaning back will make you appear approachable and relaxed.

Listen to others:

Be sure that any nonverbal cues indicate that you’re listing to your clients. Making eye contact shows that you’re listening, as does nodding your head or smiling. Even when speaking with a large group, it pays to make eye contact with individuals within the audience.

Remember you’re the expert:

People are there to listen to you for a reason – you’re the expert and you know what you’re talking about. Large groups can seem intimidating, but remember they don’t know as much as you do about this subject, and it’s your job to teach them what’s happening.