What stops you having your say with conviction?

If your confidence deserts you at the thought of speaking out about an issue, take our test to find out what fears stand in your way

Past regrets about speaking out revolve around:

Getting too emotional Embarrassment or feeling exposed

The impact on relationships Feeling you can’t defend your position

Generally, your biggest barrier to self-belief is:

Taking yourself seriously Your critical voice Comparing yourself to others Feeling overwhelmed

Planned speaking out usually involves:

Overthinking and overpreparing Being pushed to your limit Other people who take the lead Raising questions to spark thinking

Before a big social event, you worry that you will:

Be a bit bored Make a fool of yourself Not click with anyone Find it too much

You’d speak out more if you knew:

The right time and place How others felt

It really mattered to you The possible outcome

When you can’t sleep, you often worry about:

Whether you’ve made the right choices

Past conversations Whether life is passing you by Potential areas of conflict

When you find your voice, you:

Get a sense of connection Make people think and reflect Feel like you’re growing as a person

Often make people laugh

Your ideal speaking out scenario involves:

A set structure and process Interaction with a small group Acting on someone else’s behalf Writing rather than speaking

When you have an audience, you tend to focus on getting:

Everyone’s approval Everyone on your side Others involved

The bigger picture on the agenda

With more confidence to speak out, you would be more:

Yourself Understood Focused Respected

Circle the answers that most closely apply to you, then add up the symbols. Read the sections you circled most to reveal what fear inhibits you from saying your piece