What if my mind goes blank?

“What happens if my mind goes blank?” asked a coaching client, recently.

We’ve probably all been there. And it’s a horrible feeling.

The audience sitting there, quietly waiting.

Willing us to pick up the thread again.

While our mind is in meltdown.

…

Then suddenly, somehow, usually as we’re looking at the people sitting patiently before us, we find our words.

A moment of brain freeze is our nervous system going into survival mode.

Because yes, speaking in public sets off the fight-flight-freeze fear response.

We think we’ve prepared well. As in, we know what we want to say.

But there’s other really important prep that goes beyond the words.

It’s about finding our place of calm before the presentation.

🌀 Using breathing techniques to slow down our system…

And keep breathing while we’re speaking!

🌀 Shift our thinking. Remind ourselves that what we have to say is important and yes, the audience is on our side.

🌀 And get into a positive posture physically too.

Grounding ourselves in that space, standing tall and open to connect body, voice and mind.

And if there’s a blank, let out a long exhale. The words will flow again, for sure.

Moments like that deserve self-compassion.

Those nerves are there for a reason. And they show we care.

But, we need to manage them if we’re to speak with confidence, and conviction.

What we have to say is way too important to be locked down by nerves.

Think about your next high-stake speaking assignment.

What can you do to find your place of calm?

Photo by K F on Unsplash