BigDeal

#113 Charisma Expert: 5 Ways To Project Confidence (Even When You Don’t Feel It) | Dr. Shadé Zahrai

97 snips
Jan 14, 2026
Guest
Dr Shadé Zahrai
Dr. Shadé Zahrai, a Harvard-trained leadership coach and author, dives deep into self-doubt, revealing it as a signal rather than an enemy. She uncovers the four drivers of self-doubt and emphasizes that confidence follows action. Dr. Zahrai shares practical tips to boost perceived confidence through posture, eye contact, and vocal tone, plus the counterintuitive idea that the opposite of self-doubt is self-trust. With insights into handling manipulation and improving memory through handwriting, her strategies will empower listeners to embrace action and build resilience.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
ADVICE

Premortems: Visualize Failures And Solutions

  • Visualize goals but also run premortems: imagine what could go wrong and rehearse responses.
  • Use that prep to build agency and reduce being derailed by setbacks.
ADVICE

Five Elements That Boost Charisma

  • Improve perceived confidence with five elements: posture, gestures, eye contact, vocal tone, and walking speed.
  • Add smiling and strategic pauses to increase approachability and presence.
ADVICE

Don't Impress—Be Genuinely Interested

  • In rooms of high-status people, avoid name-dropping, one-upping, and oversharing achievements.
  • Instead, ask deep questions and offer value to show genuine interest.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app