Speak with Confidence

Chapter 8The What: Your Content

One of the most frightening moments in the life of any teacher or speaker—or parent—is when they realize the audience believes what they're saying. With that influence comes a lot of responsibility. At the same time, one of the most exciting moments is when they see a life changed by their words.

A past client of mine, Glenn, was a middle manager at a tech company. He was an incredibly capable guy when it came to spreadsheets and logistics. His ability to think through problems had gotten him a promotion, and he loved the new responsibilities (and bigger paycheck), but he was terrified by the management meetings. Just the threat of being called upon to speak sent him running for Tums. Giving a presentation felt like an insurmountable mountain. On the nervousness scale, he was easily up there at a nine or ten. Maybe you can relate.

Glenn did everything he could to avoid the weekly Zoom meetings, including feigning sickness and tripping the breaker on his Wi‐Fi router. But he knew that his lack of confidence would rob him of all chances of further promotion and maybe even cost him his current position. Glenn showed more courage than most by facing his fears and reaching out to me. The first time we met, he could barely look at the camera, and I had to keep asking him to speak up.

Over the course of our sessions together, I talked to him about things like his identity and knowing who he was. We focused on his message and the reality that he had ...