Sally Milbourne | Self-confidence | I can do it again!

From Launceston to the USA, Sally seeks out public-speaking confidence – with what results?

I turned 52 in July 2009 and am the Visiting Principal in the Faculty of Education at the University of Tasmania. I was born, raised, and am still living in Tasmania. I am based in Launceston.

I have worked mainly in primary school education, both as a teacher and a leader; and am currently working in tertiary education, focusing on the area of educational leadership. In 2004, I was awarded a Hardie Fellowship from the Tasmanian Department of Education. This involved spending four months in the United States investigating both programs for students at risk and principal selection processes. I was awarded my Doctor of Education degree in 2006. I have gained a number of other awards too, including this year (2009) a Teaching Merit Certificate from the University of Tasmania.

I have been involved over a number of years with the American Field Service, (AFS) a student exchange organisation, including a period of time as Statewide Selection Co-ordinator. I also held the position of Tasmanian Judge for the Children’s Book Council of Australia, and continue to maintain an interest in quality literature, both for children, and adults.

I have overcome a loss of confidence by seeking out information about building confidence, practising the skills involved, continuing to reflect on how I am going, and using this information to set future directions. (I have used a number of Rachel's CDs to help me.) Today I gave a presentation at an international conference in Kuala Lumpur - one of the impetuses for me consciously working on my fear of public speaking. I was very pleased with how it went, and will build on the experience.

What has helped me build my confidence is learning about various skills for building and maintaining confidence, focussing on one or two of those at a time, and continuing to build my repertoire of skills and strategies so that I have a range of these to call on when I need them.

It’s good to be confident because when I am confident, I both seek out and accept challenges that I might otherwise shy away from. This has enabled me to learn new skills, and meet some amazing people.

I stay confident by reminding myself that I have done this (whatever the current 'challenge' is - public speaking, etc.) before, and that I can do it again!

If you want to overcome a fear of public speaking there are three key ways to do this:

Learn how from the CD set that Sally used: "Confidence for women in public speaking".  (You can read her testimonial for it too.)

Read the blogs: "Managing public speaking anxiety".

Read the new E-book: "Overcome the fear of public speaking - forever".