This week, I did an Ask Me Anything live on Instagram + ooh, did our Sassy Speaking Squad bring the heat!
I wanted to share the most asked questions, so you can soak up some speaker-to-speaker wisdom. So buckle up for some (kickass) advice from a public speaking pro (moi!)!
Let’s dive into these juicy Q+As:
Q: I know most people are their harshest critic, but I feel I’m way too critical of myself. Do you pick yourself apart + how do you stop?
A: Yea + heck yea. Even after nearly 20 years of being in front of other people (tv, radio, stage, social media) I still cringe at times or find myself being really critical of some performances – I think that’s totally normal (even for a public speaking pro) + that it might not ever completely go away for some of us. BUT – there are a few ways that I challenge negative self-talk:
1 – Recognize those self-limiting thoughts when they pop up + then replace them with positive affirmations. Write a bunch out + post them on your desk, mirror, car visor – anywhere you need, to remind yourself.
2 – I keep a “Kahla Folder” on my phone where I have screenshots of nice emails, comments + pictures of cards that people have sent me. This reminds me that I help people + that I’ve made a difference to people + that always makes me feel good.
3 – Spend time with your fave person or fave people who adore you. If I’m feeling crappy, I go see my mama or my bestie. Seeing the people who you admire + love the most, loving you right back, will definitely make you feel good!
Q: I want to start my own thing, but I have no idea where to start. Website? Logo? What social media platforms do I go on? How do I know what to do and where to start?
A: Break it down into smaller steps. 100%! It can be super easy to get overwhelmed at any point in your entrepreneurial journey – it can still happen to me every time I want to try something new. But – if you break down your goals into smaller, manageable steps, it’s much easier. When I first wanted to leave my broadcasting career, I wrote down three simple steps, with 3-5 smaller tasks under each + just went down the list. I still use that framework to this day too. ALSO – remember to celebrate each milestone along the way, which will boost your confidence as you progress + will make the journey a lot more fun!
Q: What if I’m not good enough to do this?
A: I’m thinking the fact that you are even thinking + dreaming of the thing, plus, tuning into a social channel like mine that supports + helps creators, leaders + entrepreneurs means you are more than good enough + probably overqualified! When I have these gremlin thoughts pop up in my mind, I turn to a few things to change it around + remind myself that I’m a strong, capable public speaking pro… I have a playlist in my Spotify + a Pinterest board (my vision board) that are both titled “she makes it”. The playlist pumps me up + puts me in a good mood, + the Pinterest vision board reminds me of why I’m doing this.
I also have “she makes it” on a post-it on my laptop, because for me – that’s the story. I make it. There is no Plan B, there’s just Plan A revised again + again + again – I think I heard that from Lisa Nichols maybe… so maybe you can come at it from that point of view. I’m going to make it. It’s going to workout + I plan on learning from all my mistakes, adjusting the approach, + keeping going.
And if you’re really worried or maybe feeling really stuck – I’ve got your back – I have an entire Public Speaking 101 online course, designed to equip you with all the tools + tips you need to become a confident speaker. You can learn more about OWN IT here + together, we can conquer those speaking challenges + unlock your true potential!
I hope this (kickass) advice from a public speaking pro helped you out + if you’ve got any more burning questions about public speaking, presentation skills, or building unshakable confidence, drop them below or shoot me an email. I’m here to help you shine like the true superstar you are!
–Kahla