You've heard it before, but here it is again: Your success in the business world depends largely on the measure of your confidence. Whether it's because it makes them seem dishonest or incompetent, people instinctively distrust those who appear unsure of themselves. The best way to build your confidence, or at least your colleagues' perception of same, is to hone your business communication skills. Implement these five easy-to-follow tips and demolish the barriers to your success one by one.

1. Slow Down

Excessive speed of speech is a common and destructive public-speaking pitfall. You may know what you're going to say and want to get it over with as quickly as possible, but your audience will have no idea what you're talking about if you trip over words and mumble your way through key talking points. Remember to take a full breath at logical stopping points, either at the end of idea-completing sentences or between contrasting clauses. To practice, record yourself reading prose aloud, listen to the playback and ask yourself if a reasonable layperson would be able to follow your speech.

2. Enunciate

Speaking clearly and forcefully goes hand in hand with measuring your pace. Whether you're speaking in front of a large crowd or a boardroom full of higher-ups and potential clients, putting yourself out there can be scary, but you'll do yourself no favors by shrinking from the challenge and whispering your way through your prepared remarks. Again, listen to a recording of your speech and ask yourself if your boss would be moved by what you're saying.

3. Make Eye Contact

Many business experts claim that it's possible to divide businesspeople into two distinct camps: those who made good eye contact during presentations and those who don't. Unsurprisingly, the former tend to shine brighter than the latter. Another proxy for honesty and competence, eye contact says more about you as a speaker than your word choice and delivery. Practice your speeches in front of a mirror, making a point to lock eyes with yourself for longer and longer periods of time as you polish your delivery. During the actual speech, pick various audience members to focus on for a few seconds at a time without losing your place.

4. Be Pleasant

Your performance in unstructured situations offers your colleagues and superiors key insights into your character. If someone makes an offhanded remark that can be construed as insulting or offensive, defuse the situation by offering a neutral response that reflects neither amusement nor offense. Likewise, make a point of greeting people around the office in the same understated but upbeat manner, regardless of rank.

5. Promote Yourself Responsibly

The best way to get noticed by people who matter is to promote your achievements and personal brand. Be mindful of the myriad pitfalls of self-promotion: Avoid crowding others with self-centered statements, minimizing your colleagues' legitimate achievements, and stepping on your superiors' toes during a presentation or team-building exercise.

Your success in the business world depends as much on your actual achievements as your ability to clearly, confidently and politely broadcast them to your clients and peers. Deployed appropriately and in conjunction with other tried-and-true tactics, these five business-communication tips might just get you noticed in time for your next employee review.

Isaac Koontz is a freelance blogger who writes marketing tips. If you are interested in a career in marketing, Isaac recommends getting a marketing degree from a top-ranked school.