Behind the mask

Do you sometimes feel like you’re still wearing a mask?

It’s natural when we’re in front of an audience, right?

We feel anxious. Exposed.

We cast around for things to hide behind.

Like slides bursting with knowledge.

Or things to escape through.

(The first time I spoke in public I seriously considered climbing out the nearest window.)

Or we hide behind a façade of professional seriousness.

Because, after all, we want to be taken seriously.

Here’s the thing:

What if we removed all those barriers - and stood there as ourselves?

Present. Engaged. Connected.

Sharing our stories. Our cultural references… our smile J

We can still be professional.

Let’s have the courage to stand there, as ourselves – no masks or artifice.

It’s what our audience wants. And it’s definitely worth it.

How do you set the mask aside, and connect with your audience?

Photo by Jessica Rockowitz on Unsplash