Do you ever feel like fear of judgment is holding you back from sharing your voice? 

You may be making the transition from the corporate world to starting your own business and suddenly the thought of being out there, talking about what you do feels like you’re about to jump out of a plane.

Becoming the face of your business can feel scary , but it’s also essential so that people understand who you are, what you do and how you can help them.

Confidence and visibility aren’t just nice-to-have traits—they are the foundation of success and the good news is we all have it in us to be confident and visible! We just need to start taking small intentional steps towards where we want to be.

Read on for actionable strategies to help you overcome self-doubt, embrace your authentic voice, and be confident of the value you have to give.

None of us are born with confidence, it is something that is learnt when we commit to taking small consistent actions towards the person that we want to be. 

You may have invested a lot of time in yourself to get to where you are now, taking courses, reading books, making plans in gorgeous looking journals and visualising the type of business and life you want to have. 

This is amazing but without the confidence to communicate what you do, build your network and promote your incredible talents – opportunities may pass you by. 

When you believe in your value, that belief becomes contagious—the people you want to work with will feel it too. 

Think about the last time you invested in working with a service based business, why did you choose them?

Chances are you researched before you decided to work with them, you may have visited their website, looked at their social media, had a face to face encounter, maybe signed up to a freebie they were offering?

We live in a world full of options with everybody trying to get our attention, we are drawn to businesses and people that we know, like, and trust. 

Being visible means that you get to build trust showing up authentically and consistently.

Whether it’s through sharing your story, creating engaging content, or networking, being visible makes you relatable and approachable—qualities that people value.

The more visible you are, the easier it becomes for you to be top of mind as the expert in your field. 

Think about it like a relationship – when you meet somebody for the first time you don’t ask them then and there if they want to marry you! 

It’s the same with building trust and connection with the people you would love to work with. I’m not suggesting you take everyone on dates (not unless you want to) but invest your time in building relationships and your reputation. 

You may think that you are alone with this fear – “What will people think of me?” 

The reality is everyone has had to deal with this at some point in their business journey, it is a question that likes to pop into the thought bank quite regularly in the early days and thereafter as you crank up the confidence to do even greater things! 

Fear of judgment can prevent you from taking the steps needed to grow your business. It’s a natural response that is protecting you and keeping you safe from doing things that feel out of the norm, but it’s also a mindset that keeps you playing small.

You may feel that you are not ‘good enough’ or ‘worthy’ of having what you desire and fear of being exposed as a fraud. 

I’ve worked with women that feel like this and often it’s a shift in identity that can make 

Impostor syndrome can cause you to downplay your achievements, hesitate to promote your expertise, and hold you back from pursuing amazing opportunities. 

You may see people in your space who are exceptional at what they do and when you are just starting out this can be inspiring but can also cause you to doubt your own abilities. 

Remember that everybody has to start somewhere and that the people who are smashing it now, were once in your shoes. 

Recognise this pattern if it is happening to you and stop the scroll! Also remember that everybody loves a story and seeing your journey of growth will inspire others to follow their own path. 

I have made the leap from a 20 year career in corporate marketing to becoming self employed and all I can say is it is a process of self discovery. 

It’s like learning to play an instrument for the first time. At first, you’re not sure how it will sound, and it may feel awkward or even out of tune. Each note represents a part of how you communicate—verbally, in writing, and through your actions.

Just as a musician practices scales to improve their technique, you experiment with words, stories, and ways of expressing yourself to see what resonates with you and your audience.

When I worked in a corporate career, professionalism often meant a certain way of communicating.. Don’t get me wrong, professionalism is just as important when you run your own business.

But here’s the difference: as your own boss, you have the freedom to decide what you say and how you say it.

Using your voice in this way can feel daunting at first. It’s natural to question whether you’re saying the “right” thing or worry about how you’ll be perceived.

But once you gain clarity on your message and align it with your values, the experience becomes so liberating.

You’re in control. You decide how much of yourself to share, and as you grow more comfortable expressing your message and communicating your value, it becomes easier. 

Each time you share, you connect more authentically with the people who want to hear from you and create opportunities to build trust, relationships, and impact.

Your mindset really does shape your reality. 

If you have negative thoughts on repeat about your abilities or worth, you can decide to rewrite that story. 

It is scientifically proven that we can create new neural pathways in our minds that encourage us to think and act in ways that will benefit us. 

Begin by identifying negative thoughts and replacing them with empowering affirmations. For instance, instead of thinking – 

When you consciously practice this, you will find yourself questioning why you had that negative thought to begin with. It really does work! Over time, these small shifts can lead to transformative changes.

Can you remember a time when you felt most proud of yourself? Chances are, it was after doing something which needed you to step up and out of your comfort zone.

As humans we are built to seek out purpose and fulfilment in life and part of this is doing things that challenge us. Each time we do, we grow more confident, stronger and more capable.

Whether it’s speaking up in meetings, creating a social media video, or attending a networking event, stepping into discomfort is a sign of progress. Each time you challenge yourself, you start becoming the person you want to be. 

I always find journaling an incredibly useful tool to help me through tricky situations. 

One of my clients was reluctant to charge for her services, she believed that she had to keep working for free to gain experience and build her reputation. 

We worked together to put a package together with a value on it that made her feel good, we worked on confidence techniques that she could embody and when she shared the package with a potential client she got an immediate yes. 

Small confidence wins like this create momentum, when you believe in yourself and the value that you have to give other people will too. 

What small mindset shifts can you make this week to start believing in yourself more so you can attract people you love working with? 

If you’re feeling ready to take the next step in your business journey, Aligned to Shine is designed to help you unlock your confidence, embrace your authentic self, and build a personal brand that truly reflects who you are.

Over six weeks of personalised mindset and marketing coaching, we’ll work together to elevate your mindset, enhance your visibility, and create the solid foundation you need to attract the clients you deserve.

Apply for Aligned to Shine today, and let’s create the business and life you’ve always dreamed of.

Book a Free Discovery Call with Crystal to discuss your goals today.