Public speaking is a dance with fear, a dance you need to lead. It’s the battle with yourself to not look like an idiot, to get out of your head: the challenge to be yourself, when everyone is watching.

Where I work, most people want you to succeed. So when you’re presenting, they are vying for you. But once you let on you’re stressed, they get stressed – and no one needs any more stress.

The risk of failure is a propellant, in the right proportions. It’s no different than riding a wave or playing the guitar: do it, but don’t think about doing it.

It’s the fear of thinking about it that leads to the nightmares.

Categories: Errata

Tags: DPchallenge, failure, fear, inspiration, postaday, public speaking, stress, work