Clinging to safety ➡️ creating it for others!

My mother always wore dresses – I remember because, as a child, whenever we left the house, I would hide behind her, clinging to her skirt for safety. 

Roll forward 45 years or so… 

I recently facilitated a face-to-face workshop with around 100 people in the room.

Was there a dress involved? Yes, I wore a professional (I hope) yet comfortable dress. 

Was I nervous about speaking and holding the space for 100 people? No, not at all!

 What’s changed? Exposure, practice and self-awareness!

➡️ As a postgraduate student (twice) I was involved in relentless presentations and pitches.

➡️ While leading people and being a decision-maker in corporate settings, my voice was critical.

➡️ As a tour guide, I meet new groups of strangers every few weeks, built rapport and confidence with them quickly, and worked with local suppliers (in many cases without a language in common).

➡️ And now, as a leadership coach, team coach and consultant, I help others feel safe to speak, learn, and grow together - whether I’m working with one person, or a room of 100.

Thankfully, I don’t cling to skirts for safety anymore. 

But I’m still a classic introvert – after intense people time, I need quiet space alone to reflect and recharge. And I make sure I build that time into my diary up front! 

Can you relate to this story? Are there parts of your personality you’d like to understand better, or habits you’d like to develop or tweak? 

Get in touch — I’d love to chat about working on change through exposure, practice, and self-awareness.