Build Your Courage to Speak and Be Heard

Your Courage to Speak and Be Heard

“C ourage isn’t the absence of fear, it is to willingly walk towards that which we would want to run away from.” - Eric Kaufmann • What prevents you from speaking up? • What holds you back from going after the job or business opportunity you dream of? • What stops you from saying “no” when you just can’t take on another task? The answer is probably fear. It could be fear of the unknown, fear of rejection, fear of failure - or even of success. I’ve spent a good part of my career helping people walk through their fears. Notice that I didn’t say “conquer” their fears or “get rid” of their fears. Fear plays an important role in our lives. It keeps us safe. It prevents us from getting hurt. Fear keeps us aware of our surroundings, and when we are paying attention to feelings or sensations that tell us that danger is nearby, we take precautions to keep safe. When fear is coupled with self-judgment, criticism or feeling unworthy, it’s not so helpful. As a public speaking coach, many of the people I worked with had a fear of looking bad, or not being good enough, or smart enough in front of their peers, or their bosses. For some, fear paralyzed them, and limited their advancement and career growth. Those who were willing to take the risk to speak up at meetings, or give presentations built confidence and grew personally and professionally. Speaking up and fully showing up is risky. But there could be something inside of you that is calling you to step up in a more confident and empowered way. You might have a great idea for innovation and need funding, or you could have a burning desire to tackle a social problem. The only way to get your passion and message heard is to share it out loud-- By Dana Bristol-Smith

and to do that you’ve got to speak through and walk through your fear. What I’ve learned is that when my desire for change is bigger than my fear – desire wins. And when my desire is connected to my purpose, or mission, I’m willing to put myself in uncomfortable situations and grow into them. I’m willing to walk through my fears and I bet that you are too. Here’s how to build your courage to speak and be heard: 1. Connect to your why - Why is this important to you? - Why will it be important to others? - How will others/society/our community benefit? 2. Develop your content - Write out your message either in full script or outline format - Use stories to connect to your listener’s emotions - Practice out loud until you are comfortable with the flow and delivery - Get feedback from colleagues/friends as a practice audience 3. Assess and acknowledge your achievement - Assess your delivery by recognizing what you did well and what you’d like to improve - Recognize your new level of courage - Celebrate your growth You deserve to be heard. Who you are and what you have to say is important. The world is waiting for your brilliant ideas. You’re now ready to go out and speak and be heard!

Dana Bristol-Smith is the Founder and Executive Director of Leap to Success, a women’s empowerment organization. Leap to Success, a nonprofit, offers free programs to help women regain confidence and recover from domestic violence, homelessness, and other major trauma. Dana can be reached at dana@leaptosuccess.org