FEAR FACTOR-FIGHT OR FLIGHT?

The “What if’s” I covered in my last post are nothing more than negative self-talk, whose shackles we must cast off if we are to become articulate speakers.

“I had been mentoring Steven (not his real name) for a few months when, after a session on practical speaking, he looked at me and said “I want to give up. I don’t think I can do it”. In the conversation that followed it was clear that self-image and negative self-talk were the root causes behind this wish to quit. Faced with two obvious options, he chose to stay and keep trying.

To his credit, six months later at the group’s evaluation, Steven finished in the top three best speakers’ category.” 

Today we look at these other glaring sources of Fear and see how we can either face into them, or flee from the challenge and continue at the levels of mediocrity we have settled for.

1. No Confidence. This could arise from poor self-image, lack of knowledge and the required skills of fluent speaking and presenting. How do we thrive and succeed in our work-life if do no think better of ourselves? Knowledge can be acquired; skills can be developed if we set our minds to it. It is a matter of choice and our willingness to pay the price that comes with it.

 2. No desire for Excellence. We think we are alright in this field (does “comfort zone” ring a bell?). There is therefore no sense of urgency or desire to improve – we allow “good” to block us from moving to “better”. Point to ponder: How do people succeed, get to be the best they can be with hard work, fuelled by the desire to excel in all they do?

3. No Practice. Without this, one may be certain to get nowhere with one’s audience. The late Steve Jobs stood out as one of the most outstanding high-impact presenters in the corporate world. A major contributor to his success?

 Rehearse, Rehearse and Rehearse again.

You can read more about his techniques in the book “Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs” by carmine Gallo.

A Closing Thought.

“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

So, Dear Reader, what is your choice?