How to Build Confidence While Speaking to Adults as a Younger Person

Speaking to adults—teachers, mentors, business professionals, or even relatives—can feel intimidating when you're younger. They often have more experience, more authority, and sometimes a communication style that feels very grown-up. But here’s the truth: confidence isn’t about age. It’s about preparation, mindset, and knowing your value.

Whether you're a student leader, in DECA, networking for the first time, or just wanting to feel more comfortable in conversations, here’s how to build real confidence when talking to adults.

Remember That Adults Are Just People

It’s easy to feel like adults live on a higher level. Spoiler: they don’t.

They’ve made mistakes, felt awkward, been nervous, and had to learn the same skills you're learning now. When you remember they’re human—with their own worries and insecurities—it instantly becomes easier to talk to them.

Mindset shift: You’re not “a kid talking to an adult.” You’re simply one person talking to another.

Prepare a Few Go-To Conversation Starters

Confidence grows when you know you won’t blank out mid-conversation. A few simple starters can go a long way:

• “What inspired you to work in your field?”

• “What advice would you give someone my age?”

• “What do you enjoy most about your job?”

• “How did you get started?”

These questions show maturity, curiosity, and respect—three things adults respond well to.

Practice Eye Contact and a Confident Posture

You don’t need to stare anyone down, but brief, natural eye contact shows you’re engaged and confident.

Pair that with: Standing or sitting up straight, relaxing your shoulders, keep a friendly expression, and maintain a calm, steady voice.

You’ll look confident even before you feel it. Often, that’s enough to become confident.

Speak Slowly to Sound More Mature

When you’re nervous, it’s natural to talk fast. But speaking a little slower is much better. It makes you sound more thoughtful, helps you avoid rambling, and gives your brain time to catch up. Adults often interpret clear, measured speaking as confidence and professionalism.

Know What You Bring to the Conversation

Being younger isn’t a weakness—it’s an advantage.

Your younger eyes can bring:

• Fresh ideas

• A new perspective

• Curiosity

• Energy

• A sense of what younger audiences think and feel

Adults value that. Once you see your age as an asset, not a disadvantage, conversations become easier.

Ask More Questions Than You Answer

This is the secret.

Adults love to share stories, advice, and experiences—and asking questions takes pressure off you. All you have to do is listen, react, and ask the next natural question.

Confidence isn’t about saying the most. It’s about staying present and engaged. 

Final Thoughts

Being younger doesn’t make you less capable—in many cases, it makes you more impressive. Adults notice when a young person can communicate clearly, ask thoughtful questions, and carry themselves with confidence. What you might see as inexperience, they often see as potential. Confidence isn’t something you’re either born with or not; it’s a skill you build, one interaction at a time. The more you practice, the more natural it becomes, and soon you’ll look back and realize conversations that once made you nervous now feel completely normal.

The truth is, every adult you talk to was once in your shoes, wishing they sounded older or felt more prepared. They grew into their confidence, and you will too. With every question you ask, every handshake, every small moment where you push yourself, you’re building a skill that will set you apart for years to come. Keep going, stay curious, and trust that you’re capable of far more than you think.

Written by Estella Neale, VP of Marketing