Blog
Step Away From The Bus
“I wish I was hit by a bus before a presentation happens.”
Have you ever felt this way? *Kathy certainly did. She sheepishly said those exact words when we first met. A bright, accomplished HR professional, she was embarrassed to share her fear with her peers. She was worried they would judge her, and even lose respect for her as a supervisor.
So Kathy kept quiet. She always found an excuse not to speak:
“Let’s have Marc do it, I don’t want him to feel left out.”
“Shoot, I’m traveling that day. Next time!”
Each time Kathy dodged the spotlight, she felt relieved. Then she felt angry and frustrated. The more Kathy avoided her fear, the more she felt like a failure. It wasn’t until Kathy learned these fundamental truths about speaking that we finally make some progress:
Everyone feels nervous before they speak, even professionals. Whether you have a stellar performance or a melt-down, is determined by how you perceive and use your anxious energy.
The world’s best speakers weren’t born that way. They learned, systematically, how to craft interesting content and deliver it dynamically. Ultra Marathon runners and James Beard Award-Winning chefs didn’t roll out of bed ready to wow the world. They practiced for thousands of hours to reach peak performance. Learning to speak well is no different.
We are our own worst critic. You may feel like you bombed your presentation and wasted everyone’s time. Chances are, you didn’t do as poorly as you thought. If the audience didn’t love everything you said, you can learn from it and level up for your next presentation.
Can you relate to Kathy? What’s keeping you from speaking up and standing out in your industry?
#GoToSpeaker #publicspeaking #speaker #anxiety