Silencing the Voices in Your Head

23 Dec Silencing the Voices in Your Head

The pressure we put on ourselves to be perfect and deliver presentations that no one can criticize becomes a metaphorical straight jacket. The nagging voice that resides inside our heads is loud, obnoxious, and demoralizing. Moreover, it kills our creativity. No speaker can simultaneously monitor herself and be in the moment to connect with an audience. It’s just like texting and driving. We can’t do two things well at the same time. The result is that both suffer.

Listening to this internal critic makes it difficult for anyone to accurately read the audience, think on her feet, or be flexible. When you’re stuck in your head, your stage fright ramps up and your stress level increases. The whole experience is blown out of proportion. No wonder women resist or avoid public speaking. No one in her right mind would knowingly enter that arena. It’s reminiscent of Christians facing lions in the Coliseum of ancient Rome. Few survived, and those who did bore deep scars. Just think how many would have survived if they had a suit of armor and a sword? As speakers we also need the armor of confidence, and a sword of words to cut through the noise and vanquish the critic.

“Building Trust as a Presenter” is an excerpt from my new book, Out Front: How Women Can Become Engaging, Memorable and Fearless Speakers. You can pre-order your copy of Out Front here.

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