When taking on public speaking and presentation tasks that are new, different or take us out of our comfort zones, many of us feel anxious and nervous and sometimes even avoid the task. Much of our anxiety and nerves around these speaking tasks comes from our own self talk and much of this self talk is negative. We say things like:
- What if I make a mistake
- What if they don’t like me
- What if they don’t agree with me
- What if I forget what I am going to say
- I don’t really need to do this task and it won’t affect my career if I say no
- Someone else can do this
- Everyone will be judging me on the basis if this presentation
- It’s easier to say no and safer to say no
- Be careful it is not safe to take this task on
Research has shown that we have approximately 65,000 thoughts per day and between 65% and 70% of these thoughts are negative. I have also heard that 90% of what we worry about never happens yet we invest so much time and energy in worrying about these things that don’t happen.
Now as you can see many of the thoughts that you will have will appear to be good advice, precautionary advice, safety advice; but in reality it is a wolf dressed in sheep’s clothes, appearing to be friendly but in reality being negative and unhelpful. In reality this negative and cautionary voice of the wolf is stopping you from maximizing your potential, advancing yourself and taking up opportunities that you should.
So the next time you have an opportunity to speak in public and are feeling a little anxious, listen closely to yourself talk – and just check if it is negative or positive. Is it reality or is it the wolf speaking in disguise just appearing to be friendly and helpful. If so, change those thoughts to positive and say yes to the opportunity.