Don't Fear Public Speaking

Saying thank you with 20 of your pals while in front on an audience of your, and your friend's parents doesn't count as public speaking. It can though, prepare you for what's to come in terms of your entire education. Like the time in grade school I got called up to the front of the class to play the skinny turkey in the holiday production my teacher was in charge of that season. I was horrified. They actually wanted me to say something up there, and in front of a lot of people.

Why do we fear talking when many people are listening? Is it that we think each and every one of them is judging what we are saying the moment it comes out of our mouths. Okay. There is some unconsciencous judgement whenever you're listening to anyone talk. You're thinking about their presentation, their clothes, how they're delivering their point. Lots of things. All while most of the time you don't even realize it. So yeah. We're all guilty of doing this. I guess that means when we're the one speaking we have to know all of those minds out there are really listening closely. Isn't that what we want anyway?

So, if you're somewhere and you have to get up and say something, the first thing to realize is, not many people like doing this. If they're your friends, or a group of people intereseted in what you're interested in, then it can actually be comfortable taking your turn at speaking. When I joined a weight loss program I felt comfortable saying something because I knew everyone there probably had the same question anyway. So I just asked it when I got the opportunity.Soon I was able to share more of my struggle when I'd get up and talk. I felt I was connecting with the people there,

In high school I took Public Speaking. I did not want to get up there. My instructor told us that we should give our first speech about something we know well. Something we could easily go on and on about. That calmed me down right away. All it meant was if I wanted to talk about something I didn't know anything about I'd have to do some research. But, I thought of something. It was easy actually. I had just been spelunking (cave exploring), down in the Rocky Mountains and I couldn't stop talking about it. When I started to write," I slithered through the long small opening in the mountain looking despertly for something that looked like the end to this scarry tunnel leading into the caverns..." it just flowed out of my pen.

In college when I did public speaking I just did all the things I learned in high school. I looked at them between the eyes, on the top of their heads. I pictured them all dressed up like silly clowns. Anything to make the blob of people look or seem less intimidating. You can also practice your speech over and over so you know what's coming next. And when you drop you note cards which I did once, you'll be able to pick up without them. It's confidence. It comes from your knowledge of the subject, and your ability to project that in probably the shortest time possible.That is good public speaking.