…so you shouldn’t put so much weight on what you think they might be thinking when you’re presenting to them. It’s causing you a whole lot of stress and concern, and really getting in the way of your confident presence.
In today’s post, Pete shares his thoughts on where to shift the weight, so that your presence and confidence can shine brightly.
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I grew up in a loving household full of people with opinions and perspectives. And as a result, I developed a gut reaction to speaking up—because I always knew that whatever my opinion was, it probably wasn’t going to be the popular one.
That experience isn’t unique. It mirrors what many people feel when they get up in front of a room to speak: that anxious concern that what they’re about to say might not land well with someone in the audience.
The truth is, we can never know exactly what others are thinking. We can look at their faces, we can plan our words, and we can try to anticipate reactions—but we can’t read minds. We can’t fully control how our audience will receive us or how our message will land.
What we can control is our intention. We can decide how we want to show up for our audience and what difference we want to make for them. If you can enter a presentation with a clear intention—say, to provide value, insight, or encouragement—you can focus your energy on what’s within your power.
Ask yourself: Who are these people? What do they need? What would success look like for them as a result of hearing from me? When you answer those questions, your focus shifts away from “Will they like me?” and toward “How can I help them?” That change in focus transforms your energy, your confidence, and your presence.
Sometimes, you’ll find yourself in front of a large or mixed audience and you won’t know everyone’s needs. That’s okay. Decide who your target audience is within that room—the subset of people who will benefit most from your message. Aim your intention toward them. For everyone else, your message might not resonate, and that’s fine—it simply wasn’t meant for them.
You can’t control how you’re perceived, but you can control how you show up. When you focus on your intention—on the difference you want to make—you’ll find yourself more grounded, more confident, and more connected to your audience.
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