If you keep starting with “Sorry, but…” you’re silencing yourself. Try this swap and watch what happens.
Aug 18, 2025Right, let’s have a proper chat about something that drives me absolutely crackers.
I was in a meeting last week where a brilliant woman, let’s call her Sarah, had a game-changing idea. But here’s how she presented it:
“Sorry, this might be a silly question, but could we maybe just quickly consider… um, I don’t know if this is right, but what if we tried…”
STOP RIGHT THERE, SARAH!
Listen love, your idea was mint. Genuinely brilliant. But you almost talked yourself out of the room before you’d even shared it. Sound familiar?
The Sorry Epidemic
I see this everywhere. Brilliant people drowning their best ideas in a sea of apologies and self-doubt. It’s like watching someone wrap a diamond in a dirty tea towel.
Here’s what I’ve learned after 20 years in front of cameras and crowds: You don’t need to apologise for having a voice.
Your thoughts matter, your perspective is valid. And that thing you want to say? Someone in that room needs to hear it.
The Power Words Swap Shop
Next time you catch yourself using these confidence-killers:
- “Sorry, but…”
- “This might be wrong, but…”
- “Can I just quickly say…”
Try these instead:
- “I’d like to add something here…”
- “My perspective on this is…”
- “Here’s what I’m seeing…”
Same thought, different delivery. Watch how the room responds differently when you speak like you mean it.
Why This Matters (Spoiler: It’s Not Just About Speaking)
How you show up when speaking is often how you show up in life. If you’re apologising for existing in meetings, you’re probably doing it in your relationships too.
But when you start backing yourself in one area, it spills over into everything else. That’s the magic of finding your voice.
Want to dive deeper into owning your voice? My book 'The Secret to being a Bloody Brilliant Speaker' walks you through the complete journey from scared to spectacular in an easy to read bite sized format, it's part my story, part neuroscience and has 11 bonus exercises that make this a mini confidence course in your pocket with a lot of aha moments!
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