There’s a direct relationship between the struggles of self-consciousness, and the differentiating benefits of image consciousness. Dean explores the journey from awkwardness to consistency and how you can catapult from one to the other.
There’s a direct relationship between the struggles of self-consciousness, and the differentiating benefits of image consciousness. Dean explores the journey from awkwardness to consistency and how you can catapult from one to the other.
There’s a powerful relationship many people never notice between being self-conscious and being image conscious. One is rooted in fear; the other is rooted in intentional communication. And moving from one to the other is a journey that can dramatically strengthen confident presence, leadership communication, and your personal brand.
Self-consciousness shows up as a sudden spike of inner awareness—hesitation, doubt, freezing, losing your place, forgetting what you were going to say. I’ve felt this deeply. I remember being in a meeting where I was the one with the idea, and when asked to share it, I completely shut down. The idea vanished. When the content returned, I still couldn’t feel it.
This is the “flight” response in communication. You retreat. You let others take the risk. You avoid stepping into the moment. And in client communication training, AEC interview preparation, storytelling for business, or business speaking skills, this inner retreat undermines your ability to help others.
Image consciousness sometimes gets a bad rap, but in its healthy form, it means you’re willing to step up, engage, and communicate with intention. It’s not vanity—it’s courage.
Instead of fleeing from the moment, you step into it. You take on the inherent risks of communication—not physical danger, but the possibility of being wrong, being questioned, or having a moment of visible imperfection. This “fight” energy supports presentation skills coaching, client engagement skills, and professional services communication.
In this mode, you choose to stand on your idea, advocate for it, and represent it with clarity and purpose.
One of the fastest ways to move from self-focus to outward focus is appreciation. In physical combat you don’t appreciate your opponent—but in communication, your audience isn’t your opponent at all. They want you to succeed.
Even when their expressions are flat or skeptical, most people are rooting for you. Choosing appreciation is a SagePresence standard because it instantly softens fear and fuels confident presence.
When you appreciate your audience—your clients, colleagues, decision makers—you shift your vibe. You reconnect with the love for your ideas, your message, your work, and the people you serve.
Image consciousness can actually become enjoyable. You begin studying how you’re landing, learning from it, and even laughing when something doesn’t land quite right. This mindset supports interview skills training for professionals, group presentation coaching, and business development training.
Failure becomes information, not identity.
If you struggle with self-consciousness, consider reframing it as a stepping stone—not a flaw. It shows you care. And it prepares you for the next phase, where you embody your personal brand and communicate with intention, courage, and purp
Receive weekly posts of insight and inspiration.
No Comments yet!