How would you recommend dealing with imposter syndrome and fear of putting yourself out there?

I distinctly remember my very first TV interview with Sky news in 2020. I was absolutely petrified!

I had so many distracting thoughts in my head.

"What if I forget what I want to say?"

"What if I don't sound smart and everyone judges me"

Sometimes I wish I knew where to find the button and hit mute on that inner critic!

My go to person in my moments of self-doubt has always been my mum. She has this unwavering belief in me and makes me feel like the best thing since sliced bread. Forever champion.

One thing I have always remembered that someone said to me a while ago is, "you're allowed to say you don't know". That line has been incredibly freeing. I used to feel like I had to have knowledge about everything.

If we take this interview that I was asked to do. They specifically asked me to come on air because of all my work supporting women in tech. I can talk about that in my sleep. I lived it.

The thing to remember, as cliche as it sometimes sounds, is that there is only one you.

No one has the same lived experiences and can speak about your subject matter in the way that you do. That already is something that sets you apart.

I worked with a brilliant coach who worked with me on identifying my zone of genius. What are the things you do incredibly well..like in your sleep you could do it? Write them all down. Doesn't matter how small it is.

It could be that you are incredibly good at picking up key points after a great conference, or you always spot trends really early, or you are an excellent problem solver. Whatever it is, start paying attention and taking note of when you are excelling at things. This is your zone of genius.

Putting yourself out there is a muscle you can build.

Give yourself permission to experiment.

If you're a bit introverted and want to start attending conferences and worry that you don't know what to say in such situations, practice. Have a mini rehearsal at home. Decide on a few topics you might want to talk about. Do your research and form an opinion on them.

The good thing about these large events is that you can definitely find people to experiment with, see how that pans out and try something different on the next person. I promise you it gets easier and easier.

As you start doing new things outside your comfort zone, it will for a time be uncomfortable. It's new and that's ok. It's just like when you work out after a long pause or start eating healthy. It takes a minute for your body to adjust and accept this new habit.

10 years into public speaking and having a social presence, I still work at it. It is a muscle that can get rusty, just like any other skill we have. I am intentional about continuing to stretch my comfort zone, speaking on stages of all sizes and on topics that maybe feel a bit uncomfortable to me.

So, after reading this I want you to do that exercise, grab a notebook and write. If you need an accountability partner, find one. Tell them they are doing this with you and that's that.

Do that thing that makes you a little uncomfortable. It means you're growing and the world finally gets to hear what you have to say.

Let me know when you do!