Professional networking platforms like LinkedIn can provoke feelings of negative comparison or come with pressure to create the ‘perfect’ page. This pressure may be why imposter syndrome tends to play out when it comes time to join, post, or update your page.
Read MoreCould Linkedin make networking easier for introverts? Some academic research suggests that while extroverted professionals naturally do well at traditional networking, tools like linkedin can level the playing field – even if all you do is scroll. Here we’ve curated some of the best tips for polishing your professional brand.
Read MoreUsing terms like public speaking anxiety to describe the experience can create a negative relationship with speaking itself. When we talk about the ‘symptoms’ associated with our fear (like shaky hands or a racing heart) we end up associating the fear with something truly dangerous.
Read MoreWhen we avoid situations with public speaking, we end up feeling even more tense about the experience. Over time, our worries are reinforced by the negative cycle of fearful thinking and avoidance - which only leads to more fear. Even the most seasoned public speakers feel some level of fear, but too much of it can hold us back from saying yes to an opportunity or experience we might enjoy.
Read MorePeople with public speaking anxiety often feel like the fear is something they have to conceal. They often ask if there are and tricks to keep your voice from shaking. Fortunately, research has given us plenty of solutions and tools to stop a shaky voice - as well as the ways to understand why it happens in the first place.
Read MoreGroup work is inherently social, so the group setting is a bonus for those with a fear of speaking in the workplace. Not only is group therapy more affordable, group therapy can be just as effective, if not more so, than one on one. The fear of public speaking is rooted in concerns over other people’s perceptions of us.
Read MoreOne of the questions I ask all new clients struggling with public speaking anxiety is, “do you feel like you need to conceal this problem?” The answer is almost always yes. People usually talk about the judgment they anticipate having to face—the kind that can result in pity, discomfort, negative evaluations and even demotions.
Read MoreMany people have butterflies when getting up in front of a crowd. However, people with public speaking anxiety feel these jitters on another level. A racing heart, shaking palms, sweating, dry mouth, lightheadedness, or nausea can all be byproducts of the panic and dread associated with this kind of fear.
Read MoreWhen we meet for the first time, most of my clients say their goal is to totally extinguish their fear of public speaking. However, this not only sets you up for black and white thinking—’either I get rid of my public speaking fear, or I don’t!’—it also makes the goal less attainable and reinforces the idea of the fear being a ‘bad’ thing.
Read MoreWhen our body is busy fending off panic and adrenaline, our thinking is less clear. It’s harder to concentrate, and we’re less likely to perform at our best. Research on social anxiety suggests that this is exactly what ends up happening: when we’re anxious, we perform poorly compared to our non-anxious peers.
Read MoreBridging the gap between where you are now and where you’d like to be is easier when you can unpack, dissect, and be curious about why you’re feeling scared
Read MorePublic speaking doesn’t always involve a crowd. Job interviews, meetings, and other ‘high stakes’ scenarios can also result in public speaking anxiety or nerves that prevent you from doing your best. When this anxiety arises, the focus often shifts to the way you appear to others instead of the work you’re doing yourself: but true self confidence is knowing you’re going to be okay, even if something goes wrong.
Read MoreThe single most beneficial thing you can do to show up as your best self in this lifetime is to develop self-confidence. I’ve carefully curated my top 10 favourite books to help you discover the best, most confident version of you. happy reading!
Read MoreBayley Levy (@itsbayleysworld) invited me to speak on her podcast to discuss the origins of public speaking, why it’s so hard, and what we can do to better manage our fears.
Read MoreIt’s not that goal-setting needs to go out the window, rather we might want to alter our approach. It requires being agile, perhaps modifying our definitions of achievement and focusing on what I call “activity goals”.
Read MoreThe personal compass is a soul map, personal blueprint and self-made guide to help you gain clarity on how you want to feel in your life. This kind of soul work is needed to do the goal work in our lives.
Read MoreOne of the most powerful things we can do for ourselves in the pursuit of living an intentional life is getting clear on how we want to feel. You’ve probably noticed many people selecting words of the year right now, which I’m all for, but they don’t help us with the ‘how’ or the discovery of how we feel when we feel at our best. In this exercise, you get to review a list of over 100 feelings to create your top 5 words, deep-seated, transformative feelings so you can simplify your life.
Read MoreWhen you’re feeling overwhelmed or the effects of performance anxiety nothing feels more soothing than having a simple and supportive emotional toolkit of mindfulness practices to choose from.
Read MoreThe greatest life lesson I learned this year is that while hard work will get you there, I don’t need to overdo it. Destination points are arbitrary and the ability to surrender is just as important as persistence.
Read MoreAre your self-doubts getting in your way? In this podcast episode, I speak to Dr. Tracy Dagleish, clinical psychologist and host of the podcast, about what impostor syndrome is and how it interferes with our ability to reach our potential.
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