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.
When You're Put on the Spot (And What to Say Next).
Insight.It’s the moments that catch you off guard, an unexpected reply, a joke that lands strangely, someone putting us on the spot in front of a group, that feels like our self-worth is being tested. But it is not. It tests our recovery, not our worth. So What?No one expects you to have the perfect line loaded and ready. What people actually remember isn’t the moment that caught you off guard, it's how you found your footing again straight after. Finding your footing is not about an awesome reply. It is about giving yourself the courage and space to pause, gather your thoughts, and then reply. That is composure, a leadership trait that lands harder than any initial wobbliness. Next Step.This week, when something unexpected throws you, try this. Pause, breathe, let yourself have one full beat before you respond. You don’t need a clever comeback in your pocket. You need composure. All the best, Susan. The Blossoming Speaker Podcast has a new episode, listen to it now on 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...