If you’re a Beyonce fan, then you know that according to the star, she’s actually not as “out there” as her stage persona. In fact, Beyonce psyches herself up for performances by mentally playing a role, a character she calls Sasha Fierce.
I think that’s brilliant, and it got me wondering—have you found your own Sasha Fierce?
There are so many times in business that you have to go public when inside, you’re thinking “I’m not ready yet!” And yet, you have to go. It may be doing a presentation that you wish you had another month to practice, or making a sales pitch to a prospect that is a big opportunity. Maybe it’s rolling out a product that is as good as you can make it but not perfect. You focus on the maybes and the fear, instead of strutting your stuff.
Time to find your Sasha Fierce.
Pretend you have an alter-ego (all the superheroes do, why not you?). This alter-ego is whatever you think you’re not—extroverted, comfortable on stage, never at a loss for words, quick on her feet, good at closing a sale, etc. Imagine you’re writing a play with the alter-ego as a character. Describe him/her in detail. Make it like a real person. And when you’re done, try on your “secret identity” for size, like a suit of clothes. (Ever notice that superheroes always change clothes when they go from alter-ego to hero?) You don’t even need a phone booth (what does Superman do now that everyone has cell phones?).
Step into your version of Sasha Fierce, and pretend you’re the actor playing the role. No one needs to know except you. In the role, could you be bold? Could you take charge of the situation? Make the sale? Close the deal? Could you get on stage without shaking? If so, then you’ve learned what Beyonce already knows—everyone needs a Sasha Fierce.