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How to Speak Confidently (Even When You’re Put on the Spot)
If you want to advance your career, you need to be comfortable speaking up and voicing your opinions.
Speaking up not only makes a positive impression but also conveys your value and confidence. Successful professional knows that preparation is key to strong, succinct communication. Expressing yourself clearly is exponentially easier when you have time to premeditate a response. But what happens when you are put on the spot, asked an unexpected question, or prompted to share thoughts on an unfamiliar topic?
Getting put on the spot is anxiety-provoking for anyone, but it is particularly stressful for Sensitive Strivers who have reactive central nervous systems. On the one hand, this makes them observant, perceptive, and attuned to people’s needs. On the other, they can become easily overwhelmed, especially when put under pressure.
Take my client, Caleb, a highly experienced cybersecurity professional. He’s so highly regarded for his expertise that he was even recruited out of his current role into a new firm. The position was exciting and presented a huge opportunity for Caleb’s career.
But the thought of greater visibility made him anxious. Whenever he had to think on his feet — Caleb froze. He would overthink his response and ramble on. After these events, he’d beat…
