I used to experience a lot of performance anxiety when I very first started executive coaching. The narrator in my head was constantly evaluating and critiquing: “Was that the right question to ask?” “Am I doing this well?” “Are they finding this helpful?”

Then I read an awesome book and came to a profound realisation: I was tying up so much mental energy focusing on my performance, I wasn’t really able to be fully present. What if I paused the narrator in my head, and put all my energy into being present and building the connection instead?

The difference was dramatic. Not only did the performance anxiety disappear almost overnight; I could instantly feel the shift in the quality of the coaching conversations I was having.

I talk to so many people who find themselves in the same boat. They’ve worked hard to develop the right skills, but still feel unconfident when coaching a report. Or speaking at a conference. Or presenting to the board. Or pitching to a client.

Maybe this resonates with you too.

What if we started thinking about confidence as the by-product rather than a pre-requisite?

Could competence + connection = making a positive impact, which then leaves us feeling more confident?

That’s certainly been my experience. Would love to hear about yours.

#ShanelWinning #psychologist #WinningPerformance #leadershipdevelopment #executivecoaching #confidence