With honesty, you buy permission to be yourself
I have a strong sense that while we people can evolve over the course of our lives, we can't change. Like a leopard and her spots, there's no point fighting against your nature. There's something about being who you are that can't be denied.
The challenge is that sometimes we don't feel comfortable with who we are. We find it inconvenient, or embarrassing, and we try to hide it.
It's a terrible shame, because if we're honest with those around us about who we are, we buy permission to be our true selves. I reckon we should all be trying to be the best version of who we are, and I don't think we achieve that by suppressing aspects of ourselves or denying them.
Whatever your 'negative' character trait; own it. Your audience would much rather meet the real you.
PS:
I'm putting together a new tool, the "Real Speaking Slide Guide", to help everyone putting together a slide deck for a presentation. I'd love some imagery to include in the document, and I know my network is chock full of awesome peeps who speak! If you've got a picture (or three) of yourself public speaking, whether on the stage on the carpet, that you'd be happy for me to feature in the document (with a little acknowledgement of you and your awesomeness, of course) please send me an email and attach them.
Preferably 1500 pixels across or larger. Feel free to share a dropbox link or something if it's too big to email.
Thanks peeps! ❤️