BFA #011 | Test Your Boundaries

What's happening Fraud Fighters?

If you follow me now on LinkedIn or have seen any of my content online, you might think public speaking comes fairly naturally for me.

You might even think I enjoy it or I’m extroverted.

But that’s not how it all started

Let's investigate further

Read Time: ~4.01 Minutes

An Introvert’s Struggle

I tackled the challenge of identifying and eliminating fraud and felt like I was getting a true understanding of how to be successful in my role. That wasn’t quite enough though. I was always looking for ways to push my personal and professional development.

One day, while chatting with a mentor over coffee, I was encouraged to take a new approach to my professional development. My mentor, a experienced leader in the space, suggested that I consider speaking at webinars and conferences as a way to build my reputation and reach a larger audience.

Me? No way anyone would listen to what I had to say.

As an introvert, the mere thought of speaking in public sent shivers down my spine. The idea of being the center of attention, with all eyes on me, filled me with dread.

I began by researching upcoming webinars and conferences in the fraud prevention industry. I found a few that seemed like a good fit and submitted proposals for speaking engagements. To my surprise, I was accepted to speak.

Prepping for the First Speaking Event

As an introvert, or extrovert it doesn’t really matter, how do you even begin preparing for your first speaking engagement?

Become comfortable with being uncomfortable. This is just apart of the learning process.

1. Recognize your strengths: You possess unique qualities and experiences being a fraud fighter. Embrace these strengths and use them to your advantage when preparing for your speaking engagement.

2. Choose a topic you're passionate about: When you're genuinely interested and knowledgeable about a subject, it becomes easier to talk about and share your insights with others.

3. Set realistic goals: Don't expect to become a top-notch speaker overnight. Set small, achievable goals to help build your confidence.

4. We’re talking about practice: Start by rehearsing your speech in a comfortable environment, recording yourself, or practicing with friends and family who can provide supportive feedback.

5. Familiarize yourself with the venue: If possible, visit the venue beforehand to get a feel for the space and picture yourself speaking. This can help alleviate some of the anxiety with the unknown. If it is virtual, see if you can play around with the platform prior.

6. Relax yourself: Try techniques like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindfulness meditation to calm your nerves and maintain focus. I’m not an expert here, but I know the little things that work for me.

7. Prepare extra: The more prepared you are, the more confident you'll feel. Rehearse and anticipate potential questions from the audience.

8. Connect with the audience: Make eye contact, smile, and try to build a trust with your listeners. Remember that they are there to learn from you and are likely rooting for your success.

9. Focus on the message, not yourself: Redirect your focus from the anxiety of speaking to the value of the information you're sharing. This little framing shift helped me get out of my own way.

10. Celebrate this moment: After completing your first speaking engagement, take the time to recognize the effort you put in and the growth you experienced.

Learn Publicly

In the early days, I had tons of notes. If anything, I was over preparing. I didn’t allow myself much flexibility in my script. That just meant I was rigid and awkward. It prevented true authenticity because I was so stunted by the script.

Once I was able to answer questions and realize I knew what I was talking about, my confidence grew.

I had a similar experience when I first started posting on LinkedIn. I thought nothing I was saying was that valuable and I would have no engagement on my posts. My first posts I would sit at my desk, spend forever writing and rewriting, trying to make it perfect. Pressing that post button felt impossible.

Of course, eventually, I did.

You don’t need to know everything today. The people around you can learn with you as you go. No matter what your experience, or seniority level, you have a story to tell. Believe it or not, there are people waiting to hear yours.

We are in the age where personal brands are becoming increasingly valuable. It can help your career, and give you an opportunity to showcase your skills in a different perspective. Get comfortable with putting yourself out in the public. Go test your boundaries.

What Can You Do Today?

I’ll act just like my mentor on that day we were sitting around having coffee.

Put yourself out there. If a virtual webinar may be easier than an in person conference, start there. Start small with something you are most comfortable with - again you most likely won’t be entirely comfortable to start.

Don’t see any topics or don’t know where to go to find open speaking submissions? Reach out to friends, colleagues, or mentors who may be able to connect you with speaking opportunities.

Accept that it's okay to be nervous. It's completely normal to feel nervous before a speaking engagement, let alone your first.

Need help? I’m here and can share more of my learnings.

What’s New this Week?

I’ve been creating even more content for you all besides LinkedIn. Here are some of the new posts this week:

How to Research and Buy New Fraud Tools

How to Build a Robust Fraud Team from Scratch

See you again next Friday in your inbox.

​Brian