With so many changes in our world, many of us are taking on new roles and responsibilities. You may be filling in for someone who was laid off. You may be new to your role, your team, or your project. You might be communicating content that is uncertain or changing fast. All these situations call on us to speak with confidence and clarity even when we are not experts. Here are some tips to help you power up.

Do your homework so that you quickly become a subject matter expert. Learn all that you can, as fast as you can. Read books and articles. Watch Ted Talks or YouTube videos on the topic.
Interview people; hear and share the stories and details. Have conversations with people who know the subject matter. Use your network to help you find people that can help you get up to speed. Sharing real stories brings depth and color to your communication.
Remind yourself that you have valid, important information to share. You know more than the people you are speaking with. What do they need to know? What value are you bringing? They need to hear what you do know.
Don’t apologize or admit you don’t have all the information; just share what you have and engage the audience to add to the discussion. Don’t pretend you know it all when you don’t. Keep a curious and humble attitude. Focus on shared meaning and continuous learning.

We never know everything about anything. You can still speak with confidence and clarity, if you are willing to put in the time and effort.