Unlocking Confidence Through Improv

Ever freeze up mid-conversation or overthink every word before a big presentation? I’ve been there too, and I’ve learned that you don’t need to be perfect to be powerful.

In this solo episode of Speaking With Confidence, I’m sharing three of my favorite improv-inspired techniques that have helped me (and many of my clients) show up with more presence, connection, and confidence, no matter the setting.

You’ll hear how the “Yes, And” mindset can instantly shift you from anxious overthinking to engaged collaboration, how embracing failure (yes, on purpose) builds real trust and authenticity, and why a quick 10-second grounding technique might be your new go-to tool for calming nerves.

These tools aren’t about performing, they’re about transforming how you show up. Because confidence doesn’t come from being flawless. It comes from learning to trust yourself in the moment.

Resources:
Grab your free eBook: The Top 21 Challenges for Public Speakers (and How to Overcome Them)
Book a free coaching call with Tim: TimNewmanSpeaks.com

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome to Speak With Confidence
• 1:11 Yes And: The Conversation Power Move
• 4:09 Embrace Failure: The Confidence Paradox
• 6:57 10-Second Grounding: Actor's Focus Technique
• 9:19 Action Steps and Call to Action

Transcript

Tim: 0:08

Welcome back to Speak With Confidence, a podcast that helps you build the soft skills that lead to real results Communication, storytelling, public speaking and showing up with confidence in every conversation that counts. I'm Tim Newman, a recovering college professor turned communication coach, and I'm thrilled to guide you on your journey to becoming a powerful communicator. Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you never miss an episode. In other episodes I mentioned that when I stopped trying to be perfect, I started sounding more like myself. The same thing happened in terms of confidence. When I stopped trying to be perfect, I started feeling confident. Now understand that shift didn't come from a big breakthrough. It came from learning a few simple principles that helped me stop overthinking and start trusting myself.

Tim: 0:54

Studies show that improv practices can actually lower social stress and free up mental energy, making it easier to trust your instincts and respond in the moment. Improv training is used by people from all backgrounds to build real confidence, not just on stage, but in everyday conversations. Today, I'm sharing three improv-inspired confidence hacks, verified by Psychology Research. These aren't about pretending to be confident. They're about unlocking the confidence you already have and using it when you need it most. We'll start with a conversation hack that can cut social stress in half and help you handle any interaction with ease.

Tim: 1:31

One of the most effective techniques for keeping conversations alive is the yes and power move from improv. This simple shift is about accepting what someone says and then adding to it, which instantly makes any interaction more dynamic. Instead of worrying about saying the wrong thing or freezing up, you focus on building momentum together. It's kind of like a toned-down version of the TV show Whose Line Is it Anyway? So if someone remarks this room feels like a freezer, you might reply yeah, and we should start handing out jackets with the agenda. The conversation does install and it keeps rolling and both people feel more engaged. The yes-and approach works because it changes your role from gatekeeper to collaborator, and research shows that accepting and contributing ideas, rather than evaluating, evaluating, frees up brain power for genuine connection. When you're not stuck on editing yourself or searching for the perfect words, you can actually listen and respond in real time, and that's why so many improv actors and communicators rely on this principle to stay present and connected.

Tim: 2:42

Here's a great example, and it comes from author and speaker Christine Michelle Carter, who used improv to overcome her own perfectionism. During a session, her teacher reminded her practice isn't about being perfect. It just makes your worst better. And for a bit of context here, according to her website, her live event speaking fee is between $30,000 and $50,000. And I hope that gets your attention.

Tim: 3:06

That's what yes and does for conversations. It trains you to keep moving forward even if your response isn't flawless. The goal isn't to impress. It's to participate and keep the exchange alive. So you don't have to be on stage to use this. Try it with a friend or colleague. Pick any topic and make every response start with yes and You'll notice the conversation flows more easily and you spend less time worrying about awkward silences and running out of things to say.

Tim: 3:37

This simple shift dissolves dead-end responses and builds authentic rapport, because both people feel heard and valued. Ultimately, yes and isn't about being clever or quick-witted. It's about staying in the moment and trusting that you can handle what comes next, even if it's unexpected. And the more you practice this, the more natural it feels to keep moving forward, regardless of how perfect your words are. So you may be thinking but what happens when things don't go smoothly, when you say the wrong thing or make a mistake in front of others? And that's where the next principle comes in, and it can actually make you more confident every time you stumble. Look, mistakes are inevitable, but it's the way you handle them that can transform your confidence.

Tim: 4:24

In improv, failure isn't about something to avoid. It's something to practice. One of the core exercises is the failure game, where performers intentionally mess up and then announce I failed with a big, dramatic bow. This may sound odd, but it's a proven way to train your brain to recover quickly instead of freezing up. Research shows that improv exercises like this can actually boost resilience and well-being, helping you to adapt to unexpected situations and bounce back faster when things go wrong. The failure bow is effective because it turns an awkward moment into a physical gesture. Instead of shrinking away after a slip-up, you acknowledge it with a confident nod, a smile or even a quick bow. This signals to everyone, including yourself, that you're not rattled by the mistake and that you're ready to move forward. Improv theaters teach this to all kinds of people, from students to business professionals, because it helps break the cycle of self-criticism and anxiety that perfectionism often creates. You know I've mentioned this many times when you own your mistakes openly, people actually trust you more. They see you as authentic and resilient If you forget someone's name. Instead of pretending or getting flustered, you might say your name just escaped me. Can you remind me? That kind of honesty doesn't weaken your presence. It builds connection. That kind of honesty doesn't weaken your presence. It builds connection.

Tim: 5:55

In improv, some of the best scenes come from unexpected mistakes. A stumble can spark creativity and make the moment more memorable than anything you had planned. I mentioned a minute ago what Christine Carter's coach said to her about practice. Shifting from fearing mistakes to seeing them as opportunities for her growth helped her become a more confident communicator. Stomping Ground Comedies workshops have shown that even in high-pressure corporate environments, practicing with intentional mistakes can turn anxiety into playful confidence. By redefining what success means not as getting everything right but as handling whatever comes, you can lower the pressure and actually perform better. Under stress, conversations become easier and you start to feel more at ease, even when things don't go perfectly. This mindset is a foundation for building real confidence. Of course, even with this approach, nerves can still get the best of you, especially when all eyes are on you. That's where a simple grounding technique used by actors can make a big difference, helping you stay calm and focused when your mind wants to race ahead.

Tim: 6:57

Actors rely on a simple technique called the 10-second grounding trick. It's a quick sensory check in that immediately centers your attention and breaks a cycle of anxious thoughts. The most common version is the five senses method, adapted from improv warm-ups. Here performers pause and quietly name five things they can see, four they can touch, three that they can hear, two that they can smell and one that they can taste. This active scan draws your mind away from spiraling worries back into the present moment. Improv classes teach exercises like this to help students manage stage fright and feel awkward silences, because it's hard to overthink when you're focused on your surroundings. Actors call this a grounding exercise because listing your five senses immediately pulls you into the present and stops your mind from racing. Improv and mindfulness research agree that sensory grounding cuts anxiety faster than deep breathing alone. By anchoring yourself in what's real and immediate, you interrupt the mental loop of what-ifs and self-criticism.

Tim: 8:02

This isn't just for performers. Anyone can use it, whether you're about to speak in a meeting, walk into a social event or start a challenging conversation. You can use this trick anywhere and no one else has to notice. If you're holding a pen. Feels texture. Listen for the famous background sound like the hum of a vent or the shuffle of papers, notice the color of a wall or the pattern of the carpet or even the temperature of the air. These tiny details become anchors that keep you steady. One TED speaker says she calms her nerves by silently counting ceiling tiles.

Tim: 8:37

Small, intentional actions like these reset your brain just enough to get out of your head and into the moment. Let's try a quick exercise. Grab your phone or camera and look around and notice five items. You see right now that small action reset your brain in under 10 seconds. You don't need to close your eyes or do any special breathing, just let your senses do all the work. Once you make grounding a habit, you'll notice conversations and presentations feel less daunting. You're not stuck in your head, you're actually present and engaged. This shift creates the foundation for real, lasting confidence, and something you can practice every day. Remember, confidence grows when you put these techniques into action, not just think about them. So choose one hack, try yes, and at dinner tonight, or use a grounding exercise before tomorrow's meeting and see how quickly you feel more at ease.

Tim: 9:41

Improv principles are designed to help you trust yourself in the moment, so you'll notice the shift immediately. Drop a comment. Which hack. Did you try and how did it change your confidence? Remember, confidence isn't about perfection. It's about showing up and staying engaged even when things get messy. That's the improv mindset and it works far beyond the stage. Again, we're looking for progress, not perfection. That's all for today. Be sure to visit speakingwithconfidencepodcastcom to get your free e-book the Top 21 Challenges for Public Speakers and how to Overcome them. You can also register for the Formula for Public Speaking course. Always remember your voice is a power changer. We'll talk to you next time.