What do you do if your confidence is hindering your ability to present and pitch creative ideas?

If my confidence is hindering my ability to present and pitch creative ideas, I will focus on building self-confidence through preparation, practice, and positive self-talk. I will set aside time to thoroughly research and rehearse my ideas, anticipate potential questions or objections, and visualize successful outcomes. I will seek feedback and support from trusted colleagues or mentors, and remind myself of past accomplishments and strengths. Additionally, I will adopt relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or visualization to manage nerves before presentations. Over time, consistent effort and self-assurance will help boost my confidence and enhance my ability to effectively present and pitch creative ideas.

One thing I've found helpful is getting to the root of my presentation fears through honest self-reflection. Early on, I realized my main fear was looking unintelligent or unqualified in front of executives. Tracing it back, this stemmed from imposter syndrome and tying too much of my self-worth to perception rather than actual merit. Once I understood that dynamic, I could start reframing my mindset. Somedays I still struggle but other days are all sunshine and rainbows.

Face your fear. It's always the fear that doing all the "no/ you can’t do it/ it's not good enough" talking in your mind. Ackowledging it REALLY isn’t a sign of weakness but is indeed the first step to get better at it. The moment you dare to admit on your fear, you are already building on your courage as it took a lot of courage for one to admit own’s fear. I can feel my heartbeat beating fast before I was to showcase my product. I can feel my body is in tension when I was waiting for them to give me feedback. I can feel my fear. But here’s me speaking from experience, with such personality and such degree of overthinking, the outcome in reality will ALWAYS better than what I’ve imagined for myself.

Investing in skill development has been key for me in boosting presentation confidence. I am taking courses on storytelling, data visualization, and public speaking fundamentals like body language and vocal projection. Having a solid toolkit makes me feel prepared to deliver ideas compellingly. It also allows me to analyze great presenters and speakers to understand what makes them captivating.

I use positive framing by reminding myself that I'm the expert when it comes to my own ideas. While receiving ideas enthusiastically is ideal, criticism or pushback isn't a personal referendum. It's part of the creative process. With that mindset, presentations become more of a collaborative dialogue than a make-or-break performance, lowering the stakes tremendously.

Something that really aided me was purposefully building a support network of colleagues and mentors who provide affirmation and encouragement around presentations and ideation. I now take time before high-stakes meetings to check in with them not just for feedback but for reminders of my proven track record. Hearing words of belief in my creative strengths makes a difference when self-doubt creeps sins.