Trust Your Competence

The majority of us get caught up in our own head, getting trapped in the negative talk that takes control of our conversations. What if I don't know what to say, forget what to say or say something wrong? These questions destroy your competence before you even open your mouth. They create anxiety that undermines your ability to communicate effectively, making the very outcomes you fear more likely to occur.

Research confirms what high-performing professionals know: anxiety directly impacts communication skills, reducing your perceived competence while limiting your influence. When you're trapped in "what if" thinking, you cannot access the knowledge, experience, competence you already possess.

The Competence You Already Have

Here's the truth: you already have the competence to handle whatever communication challenge you're facing. You've been hired for a reason. You've succeeded before. You have knowledge, skills, experience that qualify you to be in every conversation you enter.

The problem isn't your competence—it's your confidence in that competence. When you allow "what if" thoughts to dominate, you're essentially arguing against your own capabilities. You're convincing yourself that everything you've learned, every success you've achieved, every problem you've solved somehow doesn't apply to this moment.

Overcome Your "What Ifs"

Trust that you know the answer. Not because you're perfect, yet because you're prepared. Your background, training, experience have equipped you to handle uncertainty. When you don't have an immediate answer, your competence includes the ability to think through problems, ask clarifying questions, seek appropriate resources.

Research shows that professionals who demonstrate their knowledge in communication receive higher performance ratings while advancing more quickly in their careers. The difference isn't superior knowledge—it's the confidence to trust their existing competence while use it effectively.

Focus Outward Rather Than Inward

Focus on what experiences you want to create for your listeners that go beyond interaction. When you put your energy into how you can help your listeners solve a problem or make a change, your focus is redirected away from yourself while getting caught up in the "what ifs."

This shift from internal anxiety to external service transforms your entire communication approach. Instead of worrying about your competence, you're demonstrating it by solving problems while adding value. Your listeners respond to this service mindset, which reinforces your confidence while validates your competence.

Get Comfortable with Silence

Continuous talking creates frustration for you while your listeners. Your listeners crave silence to understand while comprehend. Trust that you need time to adapt your message on the fly to meet your listeners' needs. Without silence created through pauses, you will forget what to say while get off track.

Silence isn't a sign of incompetence—it's a tool of competence. Confident professionals use pauses strategically to think, process, respond thoughtfully. When you embrace silence, you signal that you value quality over quantity in your communication.

Live in the Now

Avoid the temptation of getting ahead of yourself during a conversation. Instead, stay focused on what your listeners are saying while asking for. This will allow you to communicate a message that your listeners resonate with while want to act on.

Present-moment awareness is a competence skill. When you're fully engaged with what's happening now, you can respond appropriately, adapt effectively, demonstrate the kind of situational competence that builds trust while credibility.

The Science of Communication

Studies demonstrate that communication competence encompasses knowledge, abilities, skills, attitudes displayed in realistic professional contexts. Your competence isn't just what you know—it's your belief in your ability to apply what you know effectively.

Research reveals that anxiety undermines perceived competence by affecting elements associated with communication from social while emotional perspectives, including apprehension, tension, emotional stability. When you master your internal dialogue, you access your full potential.

Stop Sabotaging Your Success

Every "what if" question you ask yourself is an investment in failure. Every moment you spend doubting your competence is a moment you're not demonstrating it. Your listeners don't need perfection—they need your knowledge, expertise, understanding applied to their challenges.

The most successful professionals trust their competence even when they don't have all the answers. They know that competence includes the ability to navigate uncertainty, seek clarification, admit when they need more information. This authentic approach to competence builds trust while positions them as reliable resources.

Your Competence Is Your Competitive Advantage

In a world where everyone else is trapped in their own heads, questioning their abilities, your willingness to trust your competence sets you apart. When you focus outward, embrace silence, live in the moment, you demonstrate the kind of confident competence that others want to follow.

Your knowledge got you where you are. Now trust it to take you where you want to go