There was a time when just the word “meeting” would make my heart skip a beat. Not because I wasn’t prepared, not because I didn’t know my work… but because I hated the moment when someone would say, “Okay, now you share your updates.”

Main kaam toh kar leti thi. I was good at what I did. Deadlines? Sorted. Strategy? Done. Execution? Perfect. But jab bolne ki baari aati thi — when it was my turn to speak — sab kuch freeze ho jata tha.

Mujhe lagta tha main akeli hoon aise mehsoos karti hoon. But over time, I realized this is a common struggle for so many professionals like me.

🧠 The Real Struggle Wasn’t the Work — It Was the Spotlight

In my early days, I thought being good at work was enough. “If I work hard, people will notice,” I’d tell myself. But corporate life doesn’t work like that.

Aap chahe kitna bhi achha kaam kar lo, agar aap usse confidently express nahi kar paate, toh credit kisi aur ko mil jata hai.

Mujhe yaad hai ek client meeting mein, I had done most of the backend work on the campaign. When it came to presenting the results, my manager looked at me and said, “Why don’t you take this part?”

And just like that — my brain went blank. My palms were sweaty. Heart pounding. Words? Gone.

Another teammate jumped in, repeated what I had explained to him earlier, and got all the appreciation. I just sat there, forcing a smile, burning inside.

🫣 Common Thoughts That Stopped Me from Speaking Up

Every time I had to speak in front of 10 people, the same loop played in my head:

• “What if I mess up?”

• “My English isn’t perfect.”

• “Everyone’s looking at me.”

• “What if I forget what I’m supposed to say?”

• “People will judge me.”

And the worst part? Even when I did speak, it was never with confidence. I’d speak softly, rush through sentences, and avoid eye contact.

After every meeting, I would think, “I should’ve said this better.”
But by then, the moment was gone.

💼 It Started Affecting My Career — Silently

Initially, I thought it was fine. “Main kaam toh kar rahi hoon, that’s what matters,” I told myself. But slowly, I started noticing how others were moving ahead — not because they worked harder than me, but because they were visible.

They spoke up. They presented ideas. They led discussions.

And I? I stayed in the background.
I became the “quiet reliable one” — good at work, but never the one in the spotlight.

When promotions and opportunities came up, guess who was picked? The people who spoke their achievements, not just worked on them.

That’s when I knew — this silence was costing me more than I realized.

💬 I Tried to Fix It Alone (And Failed Many Times)

I started watching YouTube videos on public speaking.
I practiced in front of the mirror.
I wrote down what I’d say in meetings.

But jab real situation aati thi… sab yaad chala jata tha.

Because the issue wasn’t lack of preparation. The issue was stage fear — the pressure of eyes on me, the weight of “what if I mess up.”

I avoided speaking unless absolutely necessary. And honestly? It made me invisible.

✨ The Turning Point

One day, after a team meeting where I froze again, my manager came to me and said something I’ll never forget:
“You have great ideas. But if you don’t speak up, people won’t know.”

It wasn’t rude. It was honest.
That night, I sat with my thoughts. I had two options — keep hiding behind my work or finally work on finding my voice.

🌿 How I Finally Started Working on Myself

A friend recommended PlanetSpark.
Honestly, I thought it was for kids. I’d heard parents talk about how their children became confident speakers after joining. But then my friend said, “They have programs for professionals too. It’s not about English, it’s about confidence.”

I was hesitant. Main itne saal se kaam kar rahi thi. Mujhe class join karni padegi? It felt embarrassing at first. But then I realized — confidence isn’t about age. It’s about courage to change.

So, I signed up for a demo class.

🎤 The First Class — Nervous but Eye-Opening

When I joined, I expected grammar drills and formal lessons. But instead, the mentor just spoke to me. About my struggles. About why I freeze. About the situations I avoid.

There was no judgment. No “you should know this already.” Just patient guidance.

For the first time, I didn’t feel embarrassed about my fear. I felt understood.

🚀 Small Wins That Changed Everything

Over the next few weeks, I started noticing tiny changes:

• I spoke a little more confidently in team calls.

• I didn’t panic when it was my turn.

• I started structuring my thoughts better.

• I stopped apologizing every time I spoke.

The classes focused on real-life scenarios — meetings, presentations, small talk — not textbook lessons. And slowly, my fear started shrinking.

🧍‍♀️ A Real Moment of Growth

The real test came during a client presentation. My name was on the agenda to present a section — something that would have terrified me a few months back.

I prepared my points, practiced my opening line (like I’d learned in class), took a deep breath… and spoke.

Was it perfect? No.
Was I confident? YES.

My voice didn’t shake. I didn’t freeze. I didn’t rush. And when I finished, my manager smiled and said, “Well done.”

That one moment made every small step worth it.

🧠 Why So Many of Us Freeze Before Speaking

I realized this fear is more common than people admit. We freeze because:

• We overthink how we’ll sound.

• We think we have to be “perfect.”

• We’re afraid of being judged.

• We confuse language fluency with confidence.

But confidence isn’t about never making mistakes. It’s about owning your space in the room.

💬 What I’d Say to Anyone Who Feels This Way

If you’re a working professional who’s amazing at your job but dreads speaking up in meetings, you’re not weak. You’re human. And your fear can be unlearned.

I’m not a naturally confident speaker. I built it, slowly, with support. And if I can do it, anyone can.

Don’t wait for “the right time.” That time never comes. Start working on it now. The impact it will have on your career, your confidence, your self-worth is bigger than you can imagine.

🏁 Final Thoughts

Today, I don’t freeze when it’s my turn. I don’t panic when 10 pairs of eyes look at me. I speak, I share, and I get heard.

The work is still important — but now, I’m seen for it too.

Speaking up in meetings used to feel scarier than doing the actual work. But now, it’s just another part of my growth story.

And honestly? I’m proud I didn’t stay silent.