Fear of Judgement Holds you Back

In today’s fast-paced, globalized workplace, the ability to communicate effectively is no longer optional—it’s essential. Whether you’re presenting a new idea to your team, speaking with clients, or delivering a keynote address, your speaking skills play a pivotal role in how you’re perceived. Strong communication can inspire trust, build authority, and open doors to new opportunities.

However, for many professionals, especially non-native English speakers, speaking with clients, public speaking and presenting remain daunting tasks.

Tips Overcome the Fear of Judgement

1. Accept Learning through Experience:

Recognize that making mistakes is a natural part of growth. Instead of focusing on perfection, aim for progress.

One of my business coaches suggested aiming for a B- because taking action is better than never taking action. It doesn't matter what you need to learn, we all have to start at the beginning! While we try to perfect things, we procrastinate and never get real experience.

I want you to aim for doing something too. The first time we learn the skill, it feels difficult, and the second time too. But soon, it's not difficult at all.

If you can just accept that you have to start somewhere and do it somehow.

The beginning it is always hard but there is only one way to progress: do it!

2. Build Confidence in Your Ability:

Remind yourself of your expertise and accomplishments. Practice positive affirmations like, “I have valuable ideas to share” or “I belong in this room” or "I am the expert here!"

Recently I listened to a podcast interviewing a very successful business woman. She suggests writing a long list of accomplishments. She uses this list when she feels lost, afraid or unsure of herself. She looks at things she did in the past, and then reshapes her attitude towards the problem she is facing. "If I could do that, I can handle this!"

Why not make yourself an accomplishment list?

3. Address Accent Bias:

Understand that your accent is a reflection of your cultural identity. Instead of trying to eliminate it, focus on clarity and effective communication. Accents are not barriers; they’re bridges to authenticity.

Accent Bias exists. It really does and it's ugly. Recognising that this bias is real can help you to address it face on and confidently.

Instead of believing that you should speak "Queens English" or have a certain accent to "fit in" - rather love your roots! Love your unique way of speaking. Focus on your communication strengths. Be confident. Don't shrink because you believe you are not speaking "well enough".

Of course you can work on your diction and pronunciation. All good speakers and presenters focus on great communication skills which includes clarity of sound. I'm not suggesting you don't pronounce words clearly enough to be understood. However, in my experience with coaching, many of my clients feel silenced because they believe they are not good enough at speaking English. When the truth is, they are good enough!

4. Prepare Thoroughly:

Confidence grows with preparation. Research your topic well, organize your thoughts, and create a clear structure for your presentation. The more prepared you are, the less room there is for anxiety.

If you have no public speaking training, start learning right away. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to public speaking. But you have to start somewhere.

Consider your topic, your audience and then work on making sure your ideas are shared clearly and in a logical way.

5. Practice Effectively:

Rehearse in front of a mirror, record yourself, or practice with a trusted friend or mentor.

You have to speak your talk out loud. The act of speaking is physical. If English is your second language, you have to improve the muscle memory of how to form the word with your mouth.

No need to memorise every word unless that's the best way for you to find your confidence to speak in English. Practice helps reduce the fear of speaking.

Seek constructive feedback and refine your delivery. When you get feedback, be sure to get feedback from people who know your subject and people who speak English natively. Family members and friends are your cheerleaders but not always good critics!