Confident Business English 318. When You're Capable in English… But You Don’t Trust Yourself (A Conversation with Joely Pullen)
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Apr 1, 2026 Joely Pullen, co-founder of Savvy English and coach for international teams, helps professionals use English with more self-trust. They discuss why capable speakers freeze under pressure. Short, practical strategies are shared: small challenges, momentum-building, and shifting focus from grammar to courage.
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Founder Marta's Hidden Confidence Block
- Joely described Marta, a successful founder with B2-level English who was terrified to speak in high-pressure situations despite competence.
- Marta needed confidence work, not grammar: she had stage experience in Spanish but felt small and blocked in English due to identity and past fears.
Confidence Is Accumulated Survival Evidence
- Joely defines confidence as accumulated evidence that you can survive scary situations, not that you'll perform perfectly.
- Repeating manageable exposures converts unfamiliar situations into familiar ones and builds trust in yourself.
Use Micro Challenges To Build Confidence
- Do micro challenges to build confidence: start with low-stakes tasks like WhatsApp voice notes, then raise the difficulty gradually.
- Joely progressed Marta from private voice notes to speaking on a noisy high-speed train to reduce fear of embarrassment.