Shifting Focus for Authentic Connection
When presenting, your audiences' expressions can be distracting. A scowl or furrowed brow might feel like a personal critique. Early in my career, these often caused me to spiral into self-doubt, questioning if I had gone too fast or slow, skipped a part, or failed to connect.
An analogy can be made with the reactive dogs at the Animal Shelter. These might snap or attack without provocation, but are doing so because they have discomfort or past trauma and are reacting from that. I'm trained to navigate reactive dogs, I know any barking or snapping is not about me.
In the heat of a spotlight it's less easy to remember it's "not about me." As speakers, we can't control listeners' internal lives. They bring their own stressors and emotions. What we can control is our reaction. A simple mantra, “Not About Me,” helps release unhelpful interpretations and keep our focus on delivering a message with clarity.
Practice this: throughout your day, when you feel thrown off by someone else, pause and say mentally, “Not About Me,” ten times before responding. Try saying it ten times before a high-stakes presentation at it may help shift your mindset and allow you to perform at your best.