I still remember the silence.
It was ninth grade. I had just returned from a vacation when I was unexpectedly asked to fill in for a school debate. My debate partner didn’t show up. I stood alone—confident on the outside, but crumbling inside.
I couldn’t get a single sentence out.
That moment—of frozen thoughts and a trembling voice—haunted me. I remember walking back to my chair, ashamed, feeling like I had let down my entire school house. And for days, I kept replaying it. Every time I held a mic after that, my voice would shrink. The fear stayed.
Not getting the red prefect’s tie in school—twice—first in 10th standard and then in the 12th standard. It felt like more than just missing a title. It felt like I wasn’t seen. I always looked up at my sister-Meenu, who was always all rounder in school.. She had been the school captain, and I told myself: “I can't speak like her. I will never be on stage like her".
In college and at the University, I avoided stages. I was great at one-on-one conversations but the minute someone asked me speak in front of the class or on stage, I would feel like I was shrinking in size. My voice would disappear or barely audible. The fear was real.
Then came 2003. I moved to Malaysia and starting my career as a secondary school tuition teacher. I stood in front of a room full of students. But before entering the room, voices in my head were screaming- Would the kids judge me? My accent, Would my voice falter again?
But I showed up. Every day. Rehearsing. Preparing. Delivering.
Slowly, the fear loosened its grip.
One student—Sam (Class 11)—a student who stammered. He didn’t want to speak in class, fearing judgment. But we created a space of patience. He read aloud, slowly, steadily—and eventually, confidently. That was the moment I realised: We all carry a voice that’s waiting to be heard.
That moment reminded me of my younger self.
Since then, I’ve helped students from across the world—China, Syria, Turkey, Iran—and adult learners like Korean mothers learning English. They were afraid their voices didn’t sound “right.” But with support, they found the courage to speak.
And so did I.
Years later, I carried this insight into my work with professionals across industries. Because the truth is, human-centric communication isn’t just about perfect English or polished slides. It’s about presence, authenticity, and connection.
Let me share three stories from recent clients (names changed):
Sunita, a passionate entrepreneur, had bold dreams of expanding her business—but couldn’t convince her family. She was holding back, limited by the fear of not sounding 'right.' Through our work on self-limiting beliefs and human-centric communication, she found her voice. Not only did she speak up with clarity and conviction, she secured support to expand her business into three verticals. Her success wasn’t just business—it was personal empowerment.
Meena, a mid-level professional in a male-dominated industry, wanted a senior leadership role. But she was constantly second-guessing herself, believing she had to sound more like others to be taken seriously. We worked together on her authentic communication style—focused on empathy, clarity, and influence. Today, she holds a senior management position. She broke the barrier not by changing who she was—but by owning her voice.
Sudarsan, a Vice President at a finance firm, had frozen during a crucial boardroom presentation. The pressure and trauma made him doubt his place in the leadership room. But he made a promise: the next time would be different. We worked on rebuilding his narrative, practicing mindfully, and aligning his message with authenticity. After his next presentation, he called me and said, "I’ve done it. I spoke. And they heard me."
These stories are not just about communication. They’re about reclaiming your power.
That’s why I developed the S.P.E.A.K. Influence System, a simple yet powerful guide for anyone who wants to be heard:
S: Silence the inner critic
P: Prepare and practice with purpose
E: Engage with empathy
A: Articulate with clarity
K: Keep growing with feedback and reflection
You don’t have to be the loudest in the room to be the most impactful. You just need to connect. Speak with your heart, guided by intention and presence.
If you’ve ever held back in meetings... hesitated to raise your hand... or doubted whether your voice mattered—this is your reminder:
Your voice matters. And someone is waiting to hear it.
Let this be your month of transformation. Speak—not to impress, but to connect. Speak—not for perfection, but for purpose.
I’m here if you’re ready to find and amplify your voice.
— If this story resonated with you, share it with someone who might need to hear it today. Or message me if you’re looking to grow your influence through human-centered communication.
#Communication #Leadership #Confidence #HumanCentric #SPEAKSystem #WomenInLeadership #PublicSpeaking #Influence
Author Bio
Kiran deep Sandhu is a certified Speaker, Trainer, and Coach with The John Maxwell Team, a certified HRDC Trainer, and a Maxwell Method of DISC Behavioral Analysis Consultant. She is also a Tony Buzan Mind Mapper, combining theoretical knowledge with practical industry insights to deliver impactful leadership training.
With a background in academics and entrepreneurship, Kiran is passionate about enhancing communication, leadership skills, and behavioral understanding to help individuals and teams achieve greater self-awareness and collaboration.
She is the author of Roads to the Valley, a thought-provoking book on personal growth and leadership, Editor of the Books- Women practicing resilience, self-care and Well-being in Academia, and Build your Sales Muscle, and a two-time TEDx speaker.
She is the Co-Founder of Leadership KARD, a Coaching/ Mentoring/ Training organisation based in Malaysia, India, Nepal. Kiran’s coaching unlocks potential, improves communication, and inspires leaders to connect deeply with their teams.
Kiran is the Founder of the GBTC Trust-an educational NGO working in empowering education in rural India, which has empowered over 4,000 underserved children through education and technology.
To learn more or schedule a discovery call, https://topmate.io/kiran_deep_sandhu
More about Kiran Deep Sandhu is in the link below.
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