Stop the Apology Speak | Shira Miller | TEDxBayRidgeWomen

Have you ever sabotaged yourself professionally or personally by apologizing for no reason? Women especially say they are sorry when they haven’t done anything wrong; no wonder a study at the University of Waterloo in Canada found that females apologize more frequently than men. It can be easy to slip into that habit of apology speak, which is what Shira Miller calls it, in order to diffuse tension or avoid being disliked. But there is a steep price to pay. When you constantly over-apologize or make self-deprecating comments to hide your awesomeness, it diminishes the value of your ideas and accomplishments in every part of your life. This talk presents four ways to break the cycle of unnecessary apology speak, helping people of any gender who over-apologize gain more confidence, credibility, well-being and influence. Shira Miller, a Certified Executive Coach and Chief Communications Officer of a $2 billion corporation, broke a life-long habit of over-apologizing – and claimed greater success, happiness and fulfillment because of it. Passionate about helping people claim the life they deserve, she has written more than 40 articles on well-being for Thrive Global, Arianna Huffington’s online community that helps people unlock their greatest potential and is currently working on a book project to help people get unstuck and unleash their inner rock star. Getting unstuck is something Miller knows a lot about. Her personal transformations include maintaining a 50-pound weight loss for over 25 years; transitioning from financial upheaval to prosperity; overcoming health challenges and embracing wellness; finding lasting love post-divorce; and blending an award-winning corporate career with a purpose-driven life. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx