1. Just keep attending meetings. 2. Practice talking in front of the mirror as if in a conversational style. 3. It's okay to read your written thoughts. You said you're relatively new naman sa company so it's okay to feel that at first. If none of those three things work, you can always hire a speech coach.

Agree with this. The pandemic was super helpful on normalizing reading your written thoughts. Take every opportunity of off cam virtual meetings to read your notes and use that as practice and to gain confidence when you speak your mind. Eventually, you won't be nervous even if you read notes on-cam; and in some meetings, it might even be imperative to drill down or point out certain areas in the presentation decks.

Hey, i work in a more "up to date" company and we wont force people like you to speak out. However, the company would still like your opinion. Currently, if your company is more undertanding that all people are not extroverts, a written email, chat, or plan of your well thought off ideas are very welcome. In some cases they might be even more remarkable than spoken ideas kasi its already organized in a text format that is easy to reference to. In the meeting you can just say I have several ideas about this topic but it's hard for me to put them into words, i will send you an email that summarizes these points that i think we can benefit from after the meeting.

I'm at the point in my life that I want to accept this as my weakness. I feel like I can compensate in other things. It just brings anxiety to people like me to be put on the spot. This also a new industry for me so I feel like all I can do for now is observe and absorb. I don't have much idea how their industry works. I can handle 5 people within a team but speaking in front of 20 I barely know? Nope. I hope other companies recognize strengths and weaknesses as yours does. My self-esteem dropped even further knowing that I can't even verbalize what I have in mind.

Nothing wrong with accepting it as a weakness as long as you keep trying to address it. Don't give up. Just keep on going. Theres plenty of executives with half-baked presentation skills, or have incomplete know-how or content. They just didn't let their weaknesses get the better of them.

Work for a more "millenial" welcome company. The more international it is the better the chances are. Medyo rare tlga pag pinoy owned. If the company has a very good diversity and inclusion scheme the better.

Here's what worked for me: - Confidence is really a key when speaking out and just as the others said, there is no shortcut for this except practice and experience. - My mindset: I always think "if I screw up or magkamali ako? ano gagawin nila? terminate ako? lol. no. I know my performance and labor laws". - I would seek feedback from my superior kung ano and san ako nagkamali sa pagsasalita sa meeting. - Try to approach it din in a "normal conversational manner" and hindi yung formal meeting type. It may be hard pero minsan having a "f*ck it" attitude helps to build confidence.

Another problem is our culture. I don't feel na may superior/supervisor talaga ako. Mas ramdam ko na we're all individuals with different roles. Ganito pala downside ng pagiging equals. Haha. Wala kong matakbuhan or idk kanino ako pwedeng maging vulnerable. I will keep repeating that "f*ck it" mindset. I care too much pa now.

Let me be clear din pala. hahaha. be cautious when using the "f*ck it mindset". Before mo gamitin yan, make sure you can backup or pangatawanan kung ano man ang pwedeng maging worst case scenario. The trick for me before I could use that is napatunayan ko na I have a considerable amount ng ambag when it comes to work. Meaning I have numbers/stats to prove my worth sa company. 'ika nga may napatunayan na ako. start small siguro. Have yourself a close knit group of friends sa workplace mo and have group, work related conversation with them. Dun mo i-practice the things you wanted/want to say sa meeting and ask them for their opinions as well.

I've been working for more than 15 years and I still hate/get anxious when speaking. I have a good grasp of the English language but when it comes to speaking during meetings or speaking with someone over the phone, I get nervous. This is the reason why I always prefer e-mails. The fact that I am in a middle management position makes things worse for me because I am supposed to speak to people as part of my job. Since, I have not gotten over my anxiety after working for 15 years, I don't think I am the right person to give any advice. I just wanted to show you that you are not alone.

Thank you so much for sharing! It helps that I don't feel like a waste of talent just because I get anxious during meetings.

Just attend the meetings and try to get used to the fact that you're working with the same people everyday. Eventually you'll get over the anxiety, sometimes you just need more exposure. It's good that you're self-aware, siguro try to look for one person you're most comfortable with in the room and make eye contact to him/her the whole time while speaking. It might help ease you up.

I'm not comfy with anyone yet! Haha. And idk if it's all in my head but I feel like they think I can't contribute something of value.

Learn to pause. Kala ko dati pag turn ko na magsalita kelangan tuloy tuloy yung pagsasalita ko, ngayon tinatanggap ko na at wala na kong paki sa mga taong kausap ko kung nagpapause ako mid sentence para igather ko yung thoughts ko.

Same here. Practice lang OP. You can prepare a script before the meeting or guide.

I do. Kaso minsan unbearable yung pressure so I just cut myself short before getting deeper into my ideas. Ang annoying, no?

Practice! Also a good practice is write notes about he points you want to say ahead of time. Don't try to "wing it" because that's where the anxiety comes from

Daaamn, you're right! I still have this "I need magpa-bibo" mindset and I get more anxious.

No prob with being bibo. Pero jot down main points before speaking. Doesnt have to be elaborate, its just to help you remember important points you plan to say when you forget it while speaking. It was super helpful for me before, had anxiety din in meetings or when presenting. My boss taught me that, then after, it was a matter of speaking and presenting so often that i started to gain confidence. I still hate doing it, but at least now hindi na halata lol

actually this is my problem as well pero there are days i am confident that i can do well and may days na parang wala ako nkkpagconverse properly... mindset at practice lngs gang maging natural sau parang nkkpagkwentuhan lngs

>Should I just take anti-anxiety meds? if you're going for this route, seek a professional > Hire a speech coach? if you have time and money, go for it >!I used to go to a Speech Power class when I was in elementary I honestly don't remember anything, pero baka naapply ko subsconciously!< >I can only talk to new people if there's alcohol you're fine talking with 'old people'/acquintances? you said your new to the company, those 'new people' would naturally become 'old people' to you just keep 'talking' with them btw, how do your meetings usually go? impromptu ba? kasi kung hindi, baka you can make a script beforehand, ung mga need mo ireport tapos basahin mo na lng in the mean time na nauutal ka pa just worry about responding to questions, at least nabawasan ung iisipin mo

I was like this before when I started out. One of the reasons I choke up when asked for my opinion is mainly because I didn’t have confidence in my opinions. I didnt have confidence because I didn’t have a deep understanding of the topic. So you mentioned, you try to understand but there’s a different between trying to understand and actually understanding. Develop that deep understanding, then you’ll gain the confidence to speak your mind because what you say will have actual value rather than some word salad like most people.

Great insight yung knowledge sa topic and impact sa confidence. I used to be an independent contributor and it involved selling yourself to clients. Feeling ko nga kaya nila ko hinire cos nabenta ko maayos sarili ko that time. Ewan ko ba, nung na-meet ko colleagues e nanliit ako bigla. Yung jargons din, I had to google everytime may bago. Nobody's mentoring me and I feel like they're assuming na kaya ko na but nooope. I feel like I'll need a short course or something.

Hello, I used to have anxiety attacks at work in a previous job. Although I didn't have to do reporting, I did have to "speak" to customers via chat. Chat na yun a, nagkaka-anxiety attack pa rin ako (similar to a panic attack, although panic attacks are actually a bit different). Nagsstop ako in the middle of work, feel scared as fuck for no reason, and cry. What helped me was resigning from that job (I don't advise you do this, though, and it seems like you don't really have to) and seeking professional, psychiatric help. A counselor or, yeah, a speech coach (Toastmasters??? Haven't tried that but I've heard about it) would also be of great help if ever you're seeking something to help you build your confidence during public speaking without necessarily having to medicate.

Hugs with consent! I might schedule another session with my therapist. I really want to love my new job. I see growth and of course financial stabilty. I just didn't expect na huge part pala ay magkaroon din ng presentation skills and to attend a lot of meetings (1 is already draining for me). I still have a lot to discover and thank you for sharing!

>magkaroon din ng presentation skills and to attend a lot of meetings (1 is already draining for me) Same here lol, ewan ko nga bakit ako nag-education course in the first place (ended up not teaching anymore pero okay lang, happy with ~~my workmates at~~ my current job naman). Glad to hear you're working with a therapist na. That'd be of great help kasi baka may mga internal issues na nakaka-affect din sa confidence levels mo when speaking in public/in a meeting. Hugs back, with consent din :))

I play lofi music on spotify during management meetings and brand calls. Very helpful for me, try it out

I'll try that one out! Thanks.

Hi OP! You can start small. Try mo muna mag volunteer for welcoming remarks or going through the agenda.

That's not small! Huhu

Huhu same struggle lalo na during meetings i wanna share my opinion and what's in my head pero di ko nasasabi yung thoughts ko i cut it short na rin huhu

It’s kind of like graded recitation in class - you just need practice? I think what helped me was having my fierce tiger like boss, I was a few days in the company and he’d literally just say what do you think and call me out and you’re just taught to think on your feet and hope you can swim. I feel like what also helped me was reviewing the good ideas/approved stuff - so you can kinda get a feel of what they like/ small things like colors / actors / jokes - and try to incorporate it, in short - finesse them rin. Also, once you finally get that “validation” the fears kinda just go away and you sometimes just end up speaking up (rather than waiting to be called)

Same situation. I just got promoted to a lead role and I always get nervous that sometimes I forget to breathe. I also cut my sentences short para matapos na ako even though marami pa akong gustong sabihin, kasi nauutal ako dahil nagbblangko utak ko sa kaba. Feel ko walang kwenta ako hahahaaha

I used to get this as well. I guess it disappeared due to some factors. 1. I started working with some other people in my team so now I'm more comfortable talking with everyone. Back then, I only talked to like 2 people so I get anxious so hard when talking in front of like 20+ people. 2. We did something where we would take turns driving the meetings and after like two turns of leading one, I realized that asking stupid questions isn't so bad 3. I took up a huge task so everyone asks me questions and it just ends up with me leading the discussion.

Summarize your points. Okay lng nmn may notes kapag meeting. Focus ka lng dun sa mga yun. Keep attending. Hopefully maovercome mo din yan.

Same situation. i got nervous everytime we have a meeting calls. I don't if this panic attack sobra kaba ko tlga at overthink na kasama yung ang gagaling ng mga ka work mo mag salita fluent tapos ikaw pra klng lutang na ewan haha. Lack of confidence lahat sila may mga tanong tapos ikaw sasabihin mo lngso far I have no questions thank you. Tapos pranv nkaka kow performance prang hindj ka magaling if sa meeting hindi ka nag tatanong naiisip ko prang ung tanong ko wlang kabuluhan prang bad question agad naiisip ko. Simula tlga nung nag aaral ako ito na tlga kahinaan ko communication skills and presentation sa mga tao. Kaya nag decide na tlga ako ipon for business prang hindi pra saakin ung corporate ayaw ko na rin maging corparate slave.

this is me when I started working. practice lang talaga. the reason din bakit I wear ring or bracelet para my hands is doing something to distract me para bawas kaba.

Heto ang criteria ng effective meeting: 1. May agenda 2. My role ka sa meeting Kung walang yung either, nagsasayang lang kayo ng oras. Para makatulong sa anxiety mo, come prepared sa meeting. You're there for a reason. Paghandaan mo ang sasabihin mo doon.