How to turn nerves into confidence in meetings

I’m going to dive into a topic that's close to home for many of us – speaking up confidently in meetings.

Let me start by asking you a question: when was the last time you shared your opinion in a meeting, confidently and unapologetically?

Overthinking and Staying Stuck

If, like so many of us (I’ve been there!), you find yourself overthinking, with your stomach doing somersaults before you quickly and apologetically mutter something, it's time to make some do differently.

We all know that sharing our ideas and opinions is an important part of bringing innovation, diversity and growth to the table but doing this confidently, with the reassurance that you are being heard and taken seriously, can be a challenge. If you find yourself turning into a bundle of nerves when showing up to those meetings in your diary, then know that you are not alone.

A word of caution here though. It might be reassuring to know that you’re not alone but there are two issues with that. Firstly, the comparison trap starts to kick in and you’re so busy rating yourself against how other people are doing that you’re distracted from taking meaningful action to get the results you want. Second, continuing down the same path you’re on right now will only lead to more frustration and disappointment. You’re leaving the door wide open for your inner saboteurs to have free reign over you!

Take Action Now

Consider this your sign to start taking action that will get you to where you want to be – speaking with impact and owning your space.

Now, you might be wondering, "How can I speak with impact without feeling nervous and worrying about what others will say?" The good news is that there are helpful strategies that you can start using at your very next meeting. The key is to keep practising them so that they become second nature.

A simple Visualisation

One strategy I particularly like is Visualisation. Imagining the outcome I want and how I will show up to achieve that outcome. It’s important to remember that things don’t always go the way we want, even when using the power of visualisation. So instead of fixating on the outcome, I focus on the impact I want to make and that helps me stay flexible to how the situation unfolds. I’m able to respond rather than react, leading to less frustration and better results. If this is ticking boxes for you, then know that you can start doing this today too!

Here's a simple yet powerful visualisation exercise that can help you speak with impact in your meetings.

Close your eyes and picture the confident, assertive version of yourself in that meeting room. Visualise your posture, your breathing, where you're sitting, where you’re looking and the tone of your voice. Fully experience yourself feeling confident and focused in that image as you bring these feelings to life, calling upon them at your next meeting.

Practise visualising yourself in this way and hold onto that confidence and focus, taking it with you to your meetings or any group setting. 

By doing this, you're not just imagining an outcome, you're actively shifting your focus to develop new, helpful habits that translate to meaningful action. Action that gets you better results. This small shift in mindset can have a big impact.

Conclusion

Changing the way you think might feel a bit uncomfortable at first. It can be challenging to become confident speaking up in meetings but remember that your contributions matter and will make a positive impact. Here's the kicker: start today. Don't leave it to the next meeting or some distant future. Try the simple visualisation exercise to help you feel more confident and relaxed when showing up in meetings. Meetings are a part of life so using helpful strategies to boost your confidence will go a long way in how you show up. By choosing to take action now, you're setting yourself up for success sooner and you’ll be seeing a positive difference not only in your meetings but in other areas of your work and life.

If meetings seem to take up your life, making you feel overwhelmed and stressed, I can help you out with that. 

Book a free Strategy Call and we’ll make a plan to help you become more confident and relaxed so that you can speak with impact at those meetings.