In Part 1 of this series we discussed the fear of rejection of your words when you’re speaking. If you missed that post, be sure to check it out here.
Another way fear of rejection shows up as public speaking anxiety is when you’re afraid they’ll reject your expertise. You know – those doubts that sound like this:
- Who would want to listen to me?
- What if I don’t sound as good as ___________ (insert other expert here)?
- I must be kidding myself. Who do I think I am?
Do you realize these are common doubts and fears? Listen closely to very successful people, and you’ll hear them mention these concerns popping into their minds, too. So you’re in good company!
What To Do
These fears about your expertise don’t have to derail you. And they don’t have to stop you from speaking up. There are steps you can take to help yourself to move past the fear.
- Use that question “Who would want to listen to me?” It’s actually a great incentive to craft your talk more carefully. The answer to the question is this: People who think you can solve their problem are the ones who would want to listen. So speak directly to them, and only them.
When you’re writing your talk or intro or elevator speech, imagine your ideal client sitting across from you. Then write to them. When you get to speaking this out loud, your passion will shine through because you’re addressing your people, your targeted community.
- “What if I don’t sound as good as WhatsHerName?” It’s natural to compare ourselves to others. We all do it. But this question is NOT useful.
Here’s why: You’re comparing apples and oranges. You are uniquely you. Your message and the way you deliver it is different from everyone else, because you’re a different person. So you’re going to sound different from her. And that’s a good thing.
There are more than enough clients and customers to go around. You want to connect with the ones who are the right fit for you. That’s why it’s so important to relax as much as you can so you can be yourself. And let that unique you shine through to click with your people.
So keep checking out others in your industry. Learning from what they’re doing and how they’re doing it. See what you want to try yourself, and what you want to avoid. Maybe form partnerships when you see how your offers actually complement each other. But quit comparing yourself, because there’s nobody out there just like you. And there are people just waiting to hear what you have to say!
Stay tuned for Part 3 – Fear of Rejection of You Personally.
