How to overcome imposter syndrome (as a speaker)

Posted on by michael nitschke
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I took over the family business suddenly, at 30 years old, with no business or leadership experience. There was no succession plan or leadership development training in place for me to easily transition from salesperson to CEO.

Positive self-talk can only go so far. I hired a mindset coach and business mentor to help get my head in the right place, especially as I was grieving the loss of my parents and dealing with the financial mess left behind.

Standing up in front of the team was one of the hardest things I had to do, because I had to be strong for them and give them confidence in my ability to lead.

Here are five tips to help overcome imposter syndrome anxiety when it comes to speaking.

  1. Start with a mental reframe: If you can reframe the talk as a way to help and serve them, you’ll speak with greater confidence and conviction. It’s less about the delivery and more about the substance. It’s about them, not you.
  2. Be vulnerable: People respond to realness and authenticity. It’s okay to not be polished or perfect. CEOs and leaders rarely let their guards down, so if you can, you’ll stand out.
  3. Know your topic: This one isn’t easy if you’re being asked to speak or thrust into a leadership role like I was, but it’s good to remember as you continue to do it more. What are you an authority on or passionate about? Passion is palpable.
  4. Do the reps: Like anything in life (and certainly in business), confidence compounds. Practice the method of delivering your message, over and over.
  5. Learn storytelling: This will help you captivate an audience. Know what a good sequence is, an opening hook, how to add suspense to keep them engaged, and close with a kicker message. Practice with talking points, not a full script, so you can rebound off the audience’s energy.

Public speaking is a skill anyone can learn, especially aspiring leaders and CEOs. You’ve got this.

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I document my journey building an industry-defining company… the good, the bad, the opportunities, and the epiphanies.

You can also book me as keynote speaker for conferences, events or team training days – check out my speaking kit.