How To Walk With Confidence: The Ultimate Guide

People often judge others by how they walk into a room, meeting, or interview. Simple body language signals while walking, like posture, arm position, and facial expressions, can create a visual image of a person’s personality and confidence before even speaking. So, when figuring out how to walk with confidence, there are a few things you need to know. 

What Are The Signs Of Confident People? 

Before we start talking about how to walk with confidence, we have to talk about what confidence is and some signs that show if a person is genuinely confident in themselves. 

Confidence is having a strong belief or assurance in oneself. You also have certainty about your abilities and correctness. Plus, you are self-confident and bold. 

Some signs that show you have confidence are: 

• Aren’t afraid to be wrong.
• Don’t want for an opportunity to be handed to you.
• You’re ok with feeling silly. 
• Don’t seek the spotlight
• You ask for help when you need it.
• Listen more than you speak.
• You don’t put people down.
• Seek approval from only the best sources.

When working on your confidence, there are a couple of places you can start. One of the most common places where people show their self-esteem issues or lack of confidence is their walk. 

What Does Your Walk Show About You? 

Just like firm handshakes, the way you walk can tell a lot about your personality. There are five different “walking styles,” giving away certain personality traits. 

Fast Walker

If your walking style is fast, this reveals you are a diligent and outgoing person, open to new experiences, and extroverted. Fast walkers are confident and often go-getters and risk-takers—people with a quick walking style like living a casual life and are super attentive to detail. 

Slow Walker

Slow walkers are often cautious. Slow, shorter strides show that you are more introverted, look out for yourself, and are more self-centered. Slow walkers are often more relaxed, ok with being alone with their own company, and often blend into the background in a large crowd. Research has also shown that slow walkers are often less active and could develop more health problems. 

Relaxed Walker 

If you walk in a relaxed manner or like to stroll, your walking personality shows that you live life on your terms and at your own pace. Relaxed walkers aren’t in a hurry to go anywhere and are seen as confident people. You like being in a crowd but will not fight for the spotlight. 

Quick Long Strides

Quick, longer strides show that you have a positive outlook on things. You may be competitive and have a personality that helps you get things done. People who walk with longer strides are logical, intelligent, and productive. You are often seen as a multi-tasker and can solve multiple problems and solutions in your head while walking. 

Dragging Feet

Walking while dragging your feet shows that you are anxious and often seen as sad or sulking in yourself. “Feet draggers” lack enthusiasm in life and everyday tasks. Often you aren’t able to stay in the present moment and are dragging the past. 

Whether you are a fast walker, a slow walker, or fall into one of the other categories. Your kind of walk tells people a lot about you and your personality.

Simple Steps For How To Walk With Confidence 

You can follow a few simple steps to help you walk confidently and show you are a powerful woman or a confident man. This ultimate guide on how to walk confidently will help you stride into the board meeting for your big presentation with the confidence level of a supermodel.   

There are things you need to pay specific attention to when trying to figure out how to walk with confidence. Let’s take a closer look at each of these parts and guide you to one of the most important things–walking with confidence. 

• Posture
• Head, neck, and shoulder position
• Arms
• Speed
• Stride
• Eye position
• Correct footing
• Smile
• Proximity 
• Hand Gestures
• Mindset

Good Walking Posture 

Many people have bad posture when it comes to walking or sitting. To walk confidently, you want a straight back and to keep your shoulders back. Both of these will help you maintain good posture. If you walk in a hunched manner with poor posture, it seems like you have low self-esteem. 

Head, Nick, and Shoulder Position

When walking, you should make a conscious effort to always walk with your head up and your eyes looking forward. Walking this way often feels unnatural to a lot of people. If you are looking to get your shoulders into a confident position. Roll them up, back, and then down. This is the position your shoulders should be in when you’re walking. But do not pull them up towards your ears. Keeping your shoulders away from your ears helps reduce tension and allows your arms to swing easier. Having your head, neck, and shoulder in these positions are signs of confidence. 

Arms

Crossing your arms or putting your hands in your pocket can make you appear standoffish to many people. This type of body language shows that you are unavailable or feeling anxious, resistant, tense, insecure, or afraid. When walking confidently, keep your arms loose at your sides and let them swing slightly. 

Speed

Walking too slowly with small steps can show that you do not have a purpose or a place to go. If you walk at a steady pace but are relaxed, it shows that you have a purpose and a place you need to go. An air of confidence comes with the speed at which you walk.

Stride

When entering, exiting, or even moving around the room, you want to take wide, surefooted steps instead of quick, frantic steps. You do not want to look like you are in a hurry to get anywhere, but you also do not want to walk too slow to look like you do not care. 

Eye Position

Good eye contact is an effective way to show incredible confidence. When walking, keep your head high and make eye contact with people who make eye contact with you. One of the most prominent signs of nervousness is looking to the ground or away when someone smiles or makes eye contact with you. 

Correct Footing

When walking confidently, you want to ensure your feet are not too close together or with your feet pointing out. Walk with your feet shoulder-width apart, and your toes pointed forward. You’ll notice a difference in your entire stance when you change your footing. This change won’t happen overnight, and you will need to practice walking with the correct footing. 

Smile

Always smile while walking, and once you have walked into a room, even with new people, you may not know. Keep smiling! Smiling shows confidence and has a positive effect on people. It also makes you seem more approachable Try not to force a smile. It will change the way you hold your entire body. 

Proximity 

If you are walking behind someone into a room, do not walk too close to them. Walking too close to that person can signal that you are weaker than the person in front and you’re just a follower. If you are walking with someone, walk in front of them slightly or at least side by side. You want to send the right message to the people around you. 

Hand Gestures

While walking, consider using hand gestures. These gestures will not only stop you from crossing your arms or putting your hands in your pocket. When you talk with your hands, an appropriate amount, you seem more confident and assertive. 

Mindset

Your mindset should be a top priority. When walking, you appear confident if you believe you are confident. You can wear fancy clothes and have a confident posture. But, if you are not in the correct mindset or have negative thoughts, you will not appear confident to anyone. 

These are just a few essential tips on how to walk with confidence. These tips will help you feel more confident the next time you walk into a room. You’ll be able to own it and show everyone in the room who’s boss! 

Walking Confidently

Sometimes you’ll benefit from not looking so dominant while walking, but you still need to appear confident. When you want a graceful but confident walk, it is possible by using visualization. 

Step 1: As you’re walking, pretend a helium balloon is attached to you. The string comes right from the top of your head with a helium balloon pulling straight up.

Don’t try to stand taller or straighter. Just imagine the balloon and string pulling your head up. See how it feels, and notice if you can change more than just your spine and neck. You may need to change all the muscles down to their feet. 

Play around with the visualization, do not try to change anything actively. Focusing on the visualization will make you aware of the changes you are trying to make without looking like you’re trying too hard. 

Step 2: This step is where you will start developing a feeling of lightness. Using words like float and glide, begin to imagine yourself gliding across the floor. Think about a glider plane and how it gently moves through the air. Then try the same thing and think about floating. It’s a different word and a different feeling. 

Step 3: While practicing gliding and floating, bring back your helium balloon. This will help you pull your head up high but in a relaxed way. While gliding, you’ll imagine glider wings that will bring your shoulders up, changing your posture completely. Remember to focus on the changes, but don’t try and implement them physically, just mentally. Your body will follow your mind.  

This method will not only help you look more confident to the people you pass on the street or when you meet new people. It will help you build confidence from within, the space where many really need it!

Feel More Confident By Changing Your Presence 

Did you know that you can easily fake confidence even if you are not feeling confident? There are ways to make yourself feel 10x more confident even when you aren’t.

• Power pose– Although many studies have shown power posing doesn’t affect the outcome of different situations. Power posing can give you more confidence before entering a new situation.

• Project Confidence– Whether buying a used car or walking through an unsafe neighborhood, you will feel more confident if you project confidence. 

• Allow silence– There is nothing wrong with some silence, and you can use them to your advantage. Important sentences can benefit from a long silent pause at the end to let them sink in, and when you allow for some quiet between you and whoever you are speaking with, it shows you genuinely listen. 

• Stand tall– Once you walk confidently into a room, stand tall. Just like when you are walking, keep your shoulders back and spine straight. Good posture has many physical benefits, like better breathing and back support. Standing tall makes you look more confident. People who slouch often appear uncertain.

• Practice Positive Affirmations– Repeating and BELIEVING positive affirmations are a great way to confidently start your day. If you have a big presentation, job interview, or just need a little boost! These 90 powerful affirmations will give you the confidence you need to rock it!  

How To Walk With Confidence: The Wrap-Up!

How you walk tells a lot about you, whether you are a fast walker, a relaxed walker, or if you take long or short strides. When walking into a room of important people or into a new situation, you want to hold your head high, keep your shoulders back, make eye contact, smile and ensure you are in a growth mindset! 

Even if you are not feeling completely confident in yourself, strike that power pose, walk into the place like you own it, and be ready to take on any challenges that are thrown your way! Walk confidently and with radiant confidence wherever you go!