In the summers, when I was a kid, I used to gather blueberries on the north shore of Massachusetts, on Cape Ann. Like the person in this photo, I was a big fan of “one for the pot, five for me”-style gathering. But there was always enough, when I’d eaten my fill, to make blueberry Read More
Fear of Public Speaking and Self-Criticism
Sneaky or Nasty Little Voice vs. Reality: The Bout in Your Brain
I spend a lot of time thinking about the “Nasty Little Voice” (NLV) that feeds self-judging throughts to my clients (and me). And recently, it occurred to me that: Your NLV doesn’t have to sound nasty. It can actually sound quite reasonable, which, in my view, is just plain SNEAKY. And… Your NLV and SLV Read More
Just Talk to the People!
It’s Not as Complicated as You Think About a year ago, I decided to create an e-learning course (the kind that you buy, download, and then take at your own pace) on public speaking. [NOTE: I’m still working hard on the course, though I’ve given up trying to predict when it will be finished. :-))] Read More
Public Speaking Fear? You’re Actually Up Against FOUR Layers of Fear
We’re used to talking about “fear of public speaking” as though it’s just one thing. But the reality is more complex than that. There are actually four layers of fear, and excavating them will help you manage your fear more effectively. 1. Biological Fear: The Deepest Layer Fear of public speaking is close to universal, Read More
Take This “Fear of Public Speaking” Quiz
While it isn’t true that most people are more afraid of public speaking than of death, it’s certainly true that many of us fear getting up in front of an audience. So it makes sense to start by asking… Just What Is This Thing We’re So Afraid Of? Think of public speaking as any time Read More