I was scared but I did it anyway

It was about 11 years ago that I decided to challenge my fear of public speaking.

How did I do this?

It started with my mentor and coach inviting me to challenge my fear head-on… to join a Toastmasters International club.

Me and my extended family at Dojo Bali Toastmasters in Canggu, Bali, Indonesia.

His suggestion came on a Friday, and come Monday morning I was joining my first club.

I did what I needed to do — chose to change, and then followed it up with very, decisive and specific actions.

Everything changed as a result.

Limiting self-beliefs, underlying fears, and negative self-talk are just a few of the ways that we undermine our own desires, goals, and dreams.

If we don't like that, then own the desire to change!

Take note…

Many of the most confident people have anxieties when it comes to public speaking.

“There are three things to aim at in public speaking: first, to get into your subject, then to get your subject into yourself, and lastly, to get your subject into the heart of your audience.” – Alexander Gregg

Getting over a fear of anything can come with a huge amount of relief and the feeling of a large weight being lifted off your shoulders.

If you can overcome your fear of public speaking, it will open many different doors in terms of your career, personal life and confidence in general.

Here are 4 amazing benefits of getting over your fear of public speaking

✅ You will become more confident

Overcoming one of the scariest things for many people to do will definitely make you a more confident person in general. You will feel like now that you've conquered this fear, you will be able to conquer anything else. You'll feel more confident about having one-to-one chats with people, and you will also feel more comfortable in small groups and business meetings.

✅ You will be able to say yes to more

While you may have avoided agreeing to take part in various projects in the past just in case you had to present in front of a group or speak in meetings, you'll now feel that this won't phase you. As a result, you will be able to get involved in more things at work, thus enhancing the potential for further career progression.

✅ You won't care as much about what other people think

It's healthy to care to a certain degree about what other people think in order to maintain a professional attitude at work and a friendly and caring attitude with your friends and family. However, caring a lot about what people think of the way you look, the way you sound, the way you present or the professional arguments that you make isn't a good thing. Therefore, overcoming your fear of public speaking will help you not to focus on what other people are thinking and to focus more on how you feel.

✅ You can inspire others

One of the more effective ways to inspire people is just by speaking to them. Whether this is on a one-to-one basis, in a small group or in front of a large audience, you have an opportunity to inspire others to be the best version of themselves.

Whether this is advocating for a charity or cause which is close to your heart, encouraging people to have faith in themselves or promoting a brand you believe in, you can spread the word further and have a stronger effect.

Are you ready to challenge the fear of public speaking?

I'd love to help… drop me an email and let's have a conversation.