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If you have a fear of speaking up, you’re not alone. Studies show that 85% of people are more afraid of public speaking than they are of death. Wow! That’s a big fear. So you’re a pretty typical person if the thought of speaking makes you anxious.
However, the consequences for you if you’re not speaking up are NOT typical. You’re a business owner. You need to be heard. You need to get the word out calmly and clearly about what you do.
Staying Small
A decision to resign yourself to speaking fears is a choice to stay small in your business. It’s that simple. And it’s socially acceptable to have performance anxiety, so it can be an easy way to hide. I know because I’ve done it myself. Yes – it’s embarassing, but true.
While coaching other people to speak up so they could expand their businesses, I found lots of reasons to avoid doing some things because of my own fears. On the surface, they looked like performance fears. But digging a little deeper, I uncovered the truth.
My real fear was about what could happen if I expanded my business. As long as I didn’t address the speaking fears, I didn’t have to know that, did I? It was a safe way to stay small.
What Are You Missing Out On?
Are you doing the same thing? If you’ve decided this fear is locked in your DNA so you’re not going to address your anxieties about speaking, here are some of the business opportunities you’re passing up:
- doing group coaching
- creating videos
- creating audios
- making radio appearances
- doing teleseminars
- presenting from the stage
- giving free and paid talks
- effectively networking
- being taken seriously by other professionals
- speaking calmly to those with more authority or visibility
Take A Closer Look
Do yourself a favor and take a peek behind that fear of speaking. Is it just a reason you’re giving yourself to avoid a bigger fear? Maybe some version of a fear of success? Of being overwhelmed with too much work? Of not being able to maintain a high level of production? Something else?
It’s not always pretty, but the truth really will set you free. Now you have a solid, specific place to start from. There are solutions to all these concerns.
Sometimes, just dealing with your core fear will make your speaking discomfort disappear! It was just an illusion after all – a camouflage for something else. And sometimes you need some outside help with those speaking fears so you can jump on all those business opportunities. If I can help you with that, contact me and let me know.
