But when I think about regrets, they usually involve what I didn't do.

Risks I didn't take. The times I voted with fear and shrank back from opportunity.

Or when I failed to speak up.

My new book, How to be Heard (without Screaming) is now off to the publisher! The subtitle: Find your voice and use it skillfully in 30 days.

As I organized 35+ years of experience as a professional communicator, it felt important that the last chapter be a call to lean in when opportunities (speaking or otherwise) present themselves.

“Shift from thinking "I'm not ready to do that" to thinking "I want to do that - and I'll learn by doing it.

If you're offered a seat on a rocket ship, don't ask what seat!” – Sheryl Sandburg

I remember when my employer sent me to crisis communication school, and I sat in a room surrounded by public relations pros and information officers whose jobs were far bigger than my own.

Over the course of six hours, we learned some of the techniques described in the book, like mock press conferences, crafting press releases, and wordsmithing sound bites. It was nirvana for a word-nerd like me!

At the very end, they asked for one volunteer to use all the skills taught in a role-playing TV interview.

I really wanted to raise my hand.

To my surprise, half of the class volunteered me! (What an honor.)

The other half of the class wanted Eric, a very polished PR pro who worked for a public utility, to represent the class.

So we voted.

Intimidated and insecure, I didn’t vote for myself.

And I lost by one vote.

Mind you, it was a small blip in my career as a communicator, but I’ll never forget the disappointment of not being brave enough to try.

Start saying yes to opportunities to speak and along the way, you’ll find your voice.

Don’t talk yourself out of speaking.

Yes, someone else might say it differently…but no one can say it like you. No one else has your stories! Or your personality; your unique frame of reference, tone of voice, or style.

You’ve got something to say and when you lean into the opportunity, doors previously closed to you will open. You’ll unleash power that, like the lion’s courage, was there all along. When you obey that prompting, it will feel so good!

And most of all when you have a chance to vote for yourself, do it!

source.