7 Steps to Fearless Speaking

When the title of my San Francisco Learning Annex class, “How to Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking,” was changed by the marketing director to “The 7 Steps to Fearless Speaking,” I found myself forced to restructure the program to match it’s new title. My approach had always been to help participants move through fear and transform it rather than learn techniques that mask anxiety, but my challenge was to make it a step by step process.

I began to see that the process of overcoming fear was a journey of self-discovery and I could guide people, one step at a time, to that place inside, at the core, which was authentic. I designed my new format, and it is now the basis of my book, Essential Speaking: the 7-Step Guide to Finding Your Real Voice.

"When you speak from your center, you will have the deep confidence to live more fully in all areas of life."

7 Steps to Fearless Speaking

1. BE SILENT – always start from a place of silence. Quiet yourself. Being comfortable without any words is powerful.

2. BE PRESENT – Focus on the current moment. Let go of concerns about what has happened before or what might happen in the future.

3. BE AWARE – Use your eyes to take in the people you are with. Don’t avoid looking directly at them. Gaze softly and let them see you.

4. BE ATTUNED – Listen to those who are listening to you. Listen to yourself before, during, and after the words are spoken.

5. BE POSITIVE – Look for the best in others. See the good that is within and don’t get stuck on what they might be thinking.

6. BE CONNECTED – Be with one person at a time and be conversational. Speaking to a group at large dissipates your energy.

7. BE YOURSELF – The most powerful gift is you. Tap into who you are to allow your authentic voice to come forth.

If this post has been useful, share it with others.

How my Book on Speaking Found its Title

In early 2000, I opened a catalog of courses offered at the Learning Annex in San Francisco and my eye caught the title of a new program, “7 Steps to Fearless Speaking.” I was stunned because I had been teaching a class at the Annex titled, “How to Overcome your Fear of Public Speaking.” Since my students typically raved about the breakthroughs and the life transformation they experienced in my class, I wondered why another instructor had been hired to conduct a program so similar to mine.

Then, reading further, I saw that I was listed as the teacher of the new “Fearless Speaking” course. Changing the title had been a marketing decision, and the director assumed I would go along with it. I needed to decide if and how I wanted to restructure. I had already been teaching for eight years, I was attached, and I was certain of the success of what I offered.

The challenge of redoing my program turned out to be the opportunity that opened a new door. I reorganized the course content into the promised seven steps and, in the process, discovered a format that

• has helped thousands of people overcome stage fright
• learn to be themselves without fear
  
• speak with confidence in front of others

My book title, Essential Speaking: The 7-Step Guide to Finding Your Real Voice, is the outcome of this redesign and I look forward to sharing the steps with you in my future blog posts.

About This Blog

My goal here is to inspire people to find the power of their real voice and not be afraid to step into their life and make the changes that they deeply desire.

Your dreams

One can dream, but it takes action. and action will most likely involve speaking to others. For instance, what if you are no longer happy at your job and you start to dream about working somewhere else? You will need to look at other opportunities, but to actually inquire, you will probably need to talk to someone. What if you are afraid to interview? You won't be able to make the change.

Your relationships

If you are not happy in your relationship, you need your voice to express whatever is upsetting you and to explain what you need. But if you are too timid to speak up and tell the truth, your life stays the same. You don't change.

Your daily life

There are many examples of daily life situations where people avoid stepping into the changes they want to make because they simply are too afraid to speak. As a psychologist, I work every day with people who are breaking through their fear and connecting with their true voice. They feel empowered and learn how to use the natural strength that comes from within.

In this blog I will be sharing with you all that I have learned about speaking without fear. I once suffered from stage fright, so I've traveled the path myself. You will get help from someone who knows from her own experience how fright shows up in the body with palpitations or cold sweats or dry mouth. You'll also get help from an expert who has studied at UC Berkeley, received a Ph.D., and who has been working privately with individuals for thirty years.

In this blog, I will

• give tips on how to transform your fear into a magnetic presence.
• relate stories about people who have tapped into the power of their authentic voice
• reveal personal accounts where I was once stricken with terror
• show you my path to freedom
• guide you to your essential self
• teach you the steps I write about in my book, Essential Speaking: The 7-Step Guide to Finding Your Real Voice

This blog is all about finding your voice so you can change your life. I hope you will be inspired to speak without fear in all areas of your life.