Confidence is a Choice

Have you ever been asked to speak, and this intense fear starts to sink in?

 

Recently, I was asked to present a keynote. With a short amount of time to prepare the content, fear sneaked in.

 

I worried about being competent enough.

 

I worried my message wouldn’t be what the audience needed or wanted.

 

I worried I wouldn’t have enough practice to sharpen my performance.

 

Confidence is a choice.

 

Quickly, I changed my attitude.

 

I made the choice to soften the fear and increase the excitement for the event.

 

As I researched and read about my topic and audience, my competence increased.

 

As my competence on the subject improved and I practiced consistently, my confidence grew.

 

What was the final consequence of these choices and actions?

 

A well-connected message to my speaker style for my audience.

 

How we choose to show up is a choice. 

 

We can view ourselves as a success-seeker or failure-finder, and that choice has an immediate impact on how we present and whether we connect with our audience.

 

Choose success, then communicate that way.