Hi, I'm Susan, creator of the Speak Afraid Method, host of the Blossoming Speaker Podcast, author of two books, and someone who has lives through the very thing Blossoming Speaker is built for; to develop a calm and lasting confidence in how you communicate, whether fear shows up or not. I use the Speak Afraid Method because it's a way to communicate with fear still with you in different public settings, so you may achieve meaningful connections and move forward in your journey. Because I've been there, both as the student and the teacher. I enjoy sharing a practical insight each week because lasting communication confidence is built one step at a time. Last few newsletters to read under the Posts tab. This newsletter has been published since 2023. It has been hosted on Kit since 2024.
The Opportunity Hiding Behind Your Fear.
Insight.Fear of speaking up doesn’t just make you feel nervous, it may make you blind. Sounds drastic I know but most of the time we do not notice we have blind spots because of the fears we carry. When you’re afraid or nervous about having a conversation, an interview, or to lead a presentation, your mind spends so much energy managing the fear that it has minimal energy left over for noticing what’s actually in front of you. Your opportunity is usually still there, you’ve just quietly stopped being able to see it. So What?That means “there’s nothing for me now” and “I’m too overwhelmed to look properly” are two completely different situations, and need two different ways through. One needs your opportunities to appear. The other needs you to be clear enough to notice the ones already there. It is worth knowing which one you’re dealing with. Over the last four years of coaching in this space, and my own experience, we mostly lean more into the bucket of I’m too overwhelmed to notice my opportunities waiting in front of me. Next Step.Next time you feel stuck, ask yourself honestly: is there nothing here for me, or, have I just stopped letting myself look? I invite you to get curious now and explore the opportunities around you now. Are there any you are dismissing? If yes, why? Not noticing it may be what’s keeping you stuck. All the best, Susan. A new Blossoming Speaker Podcast episode is now out, listen via your favourite podcast app. |
Blossoming Speaker: Courage to Communicate
Hi, I'm Susan, creator of the Speak Afraid Method, host of the Blossoming Speaker Podcast, author of two books, and someone who has lives through the very thing Blossoming Speaker is built for; to develop a calm and lasting confidence in how you communicate, whether fear shows up or not. I use the Speak Afraid Method because it's a way to communicate with fear still with you in different public settings, so you may achieve meaningful connections and move forward in your journey. Because I've been there, both as the student and the teacher. I enjoy sharing a practical insight each week because lasting communication confidence is built one step at a time. Last few newsletters to read under the Posts tab. This newsletter has been published since 2023. It has been hosted on Kit since 2024.
There are many articles and reels about finding your voice, which usually refers to an inner voice or confidence that comes out through your actual vocal cords. While I always valued the importance of this inner voice, I took for granted my voice projected through my vocal cords and voice box. I did not realise this until the day I lost my voice. I am grateful that I naturally developed good diaphragm and voice projection techniques over my career. I think most of that was learned from the...
I used to believe it was harder to face my public speaking and confidence fears and go through them. It's actually harder to not do this. Staying in your current position, believing it is still a place of comfort, is the hardest part because it impacts all parts of you and your life experiences. Staying still in comfort also takes more energy from you overall compared to continuing with your fear still bothering you. All absolutely normal I learned, but knowing this does little to make...
When messages do not get through clearly, it leaves any change enablement project wanting. Wanting for less uncertainty, less risk, less tension and pressure, and also wanting a clearer, more relevant vision of direction. But getting a message through is never as easy as you may initially plan out in your mind. This is because you need to take into consideration not only the audience you are delivering this message to, but: What their feedback or response may be. What frequency will best help...