When (you’ve got to) you're planning to speak up in a meeting, join a group discussion, or give a presentation, how do you feel?  Do you do all the prep you can?  Maybe loads of research, rehearsing in front of the mirror, or practising numerous times with your loved ones, or with a good friend?  And still your stomach is in knots, your palms are sweaty, your heart beats faster...

But here’s the real question: What’s going on in your mind?  For lots of people, the mental rehearsal isn’t “This will go smoothly”.  It’s more like:

"What if I go blank?"

"What if I stumble or stutter over my words?"

"What if I turn bright red and everyone stares at me?"

"What if they’re all thinking, what does he/she know about this?"

The thing is, you’re actually already practising public speaking…in your imagination.  But usually, all this practice is that it’s going horribly wrong.  It’s all the ‘what ifs’ and your nerves just keep climbing higher and higher.  Is this ringing true?

Here's the sneaky part: your brain doesn’t really know the difference between something you've imagined a hundred times and something that actually happens.  So if you keep mentally rehearsing the worst-case scenarios (whether intentionally or not), your mind and body take it as the truth.  Racing thoughts, a dry mouth, a blank mind or stuttering over your words switches your nervous system onto high alert as if you’re facing danger, not about to give a presentation, go into a meeting or interview or join a group discussion.

But here’s the good news...there's something you can do.  You can actually train your mind to be calm, self-assured and grounded instead.  And when your mind expects it, your body will follow.

That’s where I come in.  Together, we can rehearse success instead of failure.  We can visualise you speaking articulately, with ease, and confidence.  We can rewire your body and mind so speaking feels relaxed, engaging and even enjoyable!  The difference is huge, you feel in control, your mind stops racing and that old fearful script has gone.

So next time you need to speak up, whether it’s in a meeting, a presentation, or a bigger public talk, you're ready, because you've already programmed your mind and body for it to go well.  No need to freeze or have the urge to run.