Doing things that scare you. How Stand-Up Comedy Builds Confidence
A couple years ago, I worked with a career coach to help me get my next promotion. We worked on logistics. How much more was I asking for? What were my reasons I deserved a promotion? How do I present my case to upper management?
I ended up getting the promotion and a raise with her help. Before we ended our time together, she offered me one tidbit of advice that I puzzled over for the last two years:
“You need to work on your Executive Presence.”
She didn’t elaborate too much. Granted, I didn’t ask questions because I didn’t even know what Executive Presence was.
Since then, I’ve been on a quest to acquire the elusive mythological enigma called Executive Presence. Many different authors will offer their take on what EP is but boiled down: it’s confidence.
“Work on your confidence,” was a common piece of feedback I’ve gotten from managers and colleagues in the nine years since I transitioned into software engineering from ICU nursing. I put two and two together: I don’t have EP because I don’t exhibit confidence!
The next conundrum:
How do I get confidence?
Reading self-help books to help me believe in myself helped, but they only went so far. I needed to do something to boost my confidence.
So, I started public speaking. I’m sharing my experiences as a woman in tech and how to navigate motherhood, Impostor Syndrome, and work life balance while being in a male dominated industry.
Last weekend, I took it up a notch and did something that really scared me: I performed a stand-up routine at an open mic. People laughed at my jokes. It was an amazing experience!
How is my confidence now after public speaking and performing stand-up?
Amazing! Along with an immense pride in myself, my confidence is soaring.
If you are facing similar issues of lacking confidence, I encourage you to do something that scares you. Whether it’s stand-up comedy or jumping out of a plane, do something that will leave you with an incredible sense of pride.
Remember: confidence can’t be bought on Amazon or built up in one day or one week. The more you stretch yourself and reach for goals, the more your confidence will grow.
