Recover during your presentation

How to recover during a presentation…

Ever find yourself going off the rails, down a rabbit hole, or veering WAY off-topic during a meeting or presentation?

I did.

And my audience knew it.

So...I used a tip from my stage tool kit for confidence and clarity:

1.) Take a breath (more oxygen to your brain allows for clearer thinking)

2.) Refer back to the one-sentence synopsis you delivered at the very top of the meeting on why you are all in the (virtual) room in the first place--hold yourself accountable for owning and leading the room

3.) Be authentic-everyone makes mistakes-it's how you recover that your audience will remember

#presentationskills #confidencebuilding #connection

Source stories that hold us back...

What are the source stories percolating underneath the moments where we find ourselves feeling disconnected from the truth of who we are?

Inner critics, toxic relationships, unsupportive colleagues, or dismissive supervisors could be the authors of the repeating messages and images that hold us back from bringing our whole selves to work, home, and life.

But each of us has the power within us to rewrite those narratives and chart a new course that moves us towards achieving the goals and realizing the dreams we have for ourselves and those we hold dear.

Wishing everyone in my orbit a courageous start to a year of seeking out and listening to your inner sage, supportive family and friends, energizing co-workers, and most of all…that unwavering voice inside you who believes in all of who you are and nudges you to blaze your trail.

Ditch the doubt and the doubters. Go be the bold, present, authentic and curious person you were meant to be.

Why allyship matters...

Just recently, I found myself in a tense situation where I faced a choice.
 
I sat in a small group with people of varying degrees of familiarity. A clear power dynamic was at play. One person emerged as the self-appointed leader, spouting not-so-subtle divisive, misogynistic, racist, viewpoints.
 
Chiming in on the chatter, some went along with the suffocating mood, energy, and tone set up by the leader. Others glanced away from the leader, took a sip of water, or caught my eye in a call for solidarity. 
 
My place in the power dynamic situated me beside the leader. I voiced my distaste and objections. My remarks were tossed aside with a roll of the eyes, a chuckle, and an adept re-direct of the conversation. All too revealing responses when the truth is exposed. I would be OK. I wanted others to know I was NOT OK with the loudest voice in the room. 
 
I have not been perfect in this speaking-up thing. Over my lifetime, I found myself in countless situations where my thoughts, my ideas, my creativity, and my body were not valued. When words and actions were crafted in ways that cloaked more sinister intentions. When I got that unsettled feeling in my stomach, when my face flushed, and my heartbeat quickened…when my mind and body were telling me I was in a toxic situation…when I felt like something was wrong with me for having such a visceral reaction. When I felt threatened, powerless, and alone. And I did not or could not speak up for myself or others.

Revisiting those moments sometimes keeps me up at night. 
 
Enough. 
 
I know now to listen to my body. When the stomach-churning blood-pulsing begins, I take a deep breath, return to the present moment, and recognize I am well equipped with the tools for understanding the intention and meaning behind words and actions. I sense when others need support and solidarity (that sip of water or glance in my direction). I speak up. And once I speak up, that unsettling feeling gives way to courage and clarity. Living with that uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach for a moment is nothing, compared to living with the hollow awful feeling of being devalued and dehumanized because of where you fall in the power hierarchy.
 
We are living in fragile and high-stakes times. We have all witnessed the lasting damage done to individuals, families, teams, groups, minds, and hearts when the facts get distorted, pushed aside, or buried. If we sit beside someone in a position of power who disrespects, diminishes, or dismisses another human being but don’t speak up...we normalize those behaviors. We are complicit.
 
Instead, read the room. Even when it’s hard or uncomfortable. Because not everyone finds themselves in the physical or mental space where it is possible or safe for them to speak up. Normalizing divisive language and behavior suck the humanity out of all of us…regardless of where we find ourselves in the power dynamic.

If you need support and methods for finding your voice, reach out.
I get it.

What to do when someone triggers your self-doubt...

On some days, belief in ourselves is a fragile thing. If you ever have one of those days, it seems certain people and distinctive voices ALWAYS show up.

Uninvited. Unannounced. But, Unavoidable.

Minutes before leading a high-stakes meeting, someone triggered my self-doubt, here is what I did to move my story forward.

Click link below:

How to Box Breathe to calm your nerves...

My high-stakes moment may not be your high-stakes moment...

In spite of YEARS on the stage, I still get nervous before speaking gigs. Sometimes...even before a high-stakes phone call. And even though I've done a deep dive into "why" this happens for me, I still rely on the one thing anybody can do, anytime, anywhere to slow their mind/body stress response.

Opera Singers. Navy Seals. Surgeons. All do it.

Box Breathe. Even for a minute. To be present, focused, and engaged.

When it feels like flight or fight...take back the moment and do what you need to do to take care of yourself.

#publicspeaking #anxiety #connection