Imposter Syndrome is the feeling that you’re not really as smart or capable as other people believe. That you’re constantly fooling them. And that, any second now, you’re going to be found out. Unmasked. Exposed as…an imposter. People who suffer from Imposter Syndrome—and lots of very smart and talented people do—think that their success is Read More
Fear of Public Speaking and Self-Criticism
If Your Mind Goes Blank When You Speak in Public, Challenge the Thought that’s Lurking Underneath
My clients sometimes report that — although they felt ready to give a talk or speak up in a meeting — when the time came, their minds went blank. This is what they experienced. And yet, anyone who’s ever tried to meditate knows that there’s no such thing as a truly blank mind. There’s always something going on in Read More
When Someone Asks a Question You Can’t Answer (on Stage or in a Meeting), Be Ready with a “Phrase that Pays”
Sometimes your mind purrs along like a well-tuned engine. Other times it coughs up thoughts, feelings, and anxieties that are worse than useless. Flashes of insecurity are human and inevitable. But when negative thoughts pop into your mind, it’s all too easy to freeze up, sputter, or panic. For many of us, this happens when we’re asked a question that Read More
Fear of Public Speaking? It Sucks
Lots of new clients are showing up lately with fear of public speaking as their presenting complaint. That fear can range from mild to maddening to career-killing. But whatever its level, fear of public speaking sucks—and there are two things you should know about it: #1: Fear of Public Speaking? It Makes Perfect Sense When most Read More
Public Speaking Tip 64: Don’t Listen to the Self-Critical Voice in Your Head
Most people have a mean, negative, undermining voice inside their heads. Like a parasite, this little voice feeds off your energy, sapping you as it strengthens itself. It’s been called: Your “superego” (psychiatrist Sigmund Freud), Your “critical parent” (psychologist Eric Berne), “Cruel self-rebuke” (advice columnist Cary Tennis), and more. I just call it your Nasty Read More