Have you ever had the thought when sitting across from a client, or standing in the front of the room?
What is he thinking? Does he really like me?
You might also be wondering:
- Do I look okay?
- Maybe I shouldn’t say that?
- Am I boring him?
- Is he going to buy something?
I’ll be totally honest. I have had ALL of those thoughts (and a frightening number MORE) while speaking to groups especially. It happened a lot in the beginning.
I used to try to read people’s faces, and guess what you were thinking.
- Do you like me?
- Are you going to attend my workshop?
- Are you bored?
My my most common thought in the beginning was…
Do YOU think that I have a big ego? Because I’m a speaker at the front of the room? I don’t FEEL that way. Do I LOOK that way?
If you want to save money on therapy, just start speaking and SELLING to groups regularly. SERIOUSLY!!!
You really will get a turbo-charged version of therapy AND you can MAKE money instead of losing it!
I got over this when I realized a few things that i want to share with you. And I’m sharing this with you because I know MANY of you have a mission you’re on, and a message to share with the world.
And sadly, many of you will never FULLY share your message with the world because:
- you’re afraid you might appear to be ego-driven
- you’re worried you’ll come off as “unprofessional
- you’re wondering if you’ll be any good
- you’re concerned that people won’t think you deserve to be up at the front of the room
Here is what you need to know. Thoughts like this do not serve you or your audience of one or many.
They are (take a breath) self-centered. Self-serving. And distracting.
You can not possibly serve someone (or a room of people) at a high level and be having these type of thoughts simultaneously.
Once you realize that, its easier to make the shift.
Step One: Let it go.
As you might do in meditation, don’t fight the thought, just let it flow through you. Let it pass on by. Smile at it. Call it amusing. And move it on down the road! 🙂
Of course I still have moments when I wonder “Do you like me?“, but they are less often, and not long-lasting, and that’s really all you need to shoot for. This isn’t about progress, not perfection.
Step Two: Realize its not about you.
Stay anchored the fact that when you’re meeting with a client or speaking to a group you are there for THEM. Ironically, even though you are the leader and the presenter, you are the last person on everyone’s mind!
Why? Because everyone’s favorite subject is themselves!
Step Three: Be willing to make a fool of yourself to help others!
If you really care about sharing your mission and your message, then be willing to go all out! If you’ve seen me speak you know that while I’ve clearly mapped out an agenda, there’s also a lot of goofy stuff goes on.
Your true power as a presenter appears when you finally decide to not worry less about what others think, and worry most about serving the room.
So make a total fool of yourself today on behalf of the people you serve!
And relax because I LIKE YOU! (not that it matters)
🙂 Be well! Kristin