Inner Monologue

26 Oct Inner Monologue

Deborah went in for her annual physical, preceded by the blood draw. We’ve all experienced that unpleasant but straightforward procedure. Except in this case, the nurse couldn’t find Deborah’s vein and said “Darn, that’s not it” followed by “This won’t work.” Since Deborah turned away during the procedure, she only heard the nurse’s comments and returned home with a badly bruised arm as well as a negative outlook on the lab.

This was a case of the nurse letting her inner monologue run amok. In theatrical parlance, an inner monologue is a character’s thoughts and feelings which are not spoken aloud but shape their internal reality and deliver a feeling of authenticity.

But like the nurse, many business professionals let their inner monologue surface, much to their detriment. Unguarded comments can ruin a presentation or pitch. When you rehearse, be aware of any doubts or problems you have with the material and figure out how to deal with them. That way, your inner monologue won’t go live when you present.