Improving your Public Speaking Skills
“I’d Rather Have Surgery without Anesthesia”
My nightmare became a reality when I was told that I had to take PUBLIC SPEAKING! Like an average person, I felt like fainting! I could not imagine myself standing in front of a classroom delivering a speech. It was a requirement, so I signed up.
Classes were remote, so technically I did not have to be in front of a crowd, but I felt all the emotions a new public speaker might feel even though I was in my living room. I felt anxious, shy and scared.
Talking in front of complete strangers and effectively communicating my message felt like getting surgery without anesthesia. The fear of talking in front of a large number of people is a struggle that I share with most of you.
Fear comes in many shapes and forms, but the fear of “Public Speaking” is one that felt by the speaker. One is never able to put into words what they “felt” right before going on stage. This fear is very real. It should be accepted, understood and dealt with by the speaker to be successful at public speaking.
This fear comes from multiple things happening in a speakers mind. Ask yourself, “What am I really scared of?” For me it was many things but on top of the list was the fear of being judged and embarrassed.
Before a speech presentation a cold shiver starts somewhere in my toes, travels upward until my entire body feels like it is made of ice. I get crazy nervous butterflies, and I want to have wings so I can FLY AWAY and not speak! My voice shakes and I am afraid the audience would be able to see how nervous I am. I also fear forgetting important details in my speech. English is my second language therefore I have a gigantic fear of mispronouncing certain words; of people not understanding my accent. I fear all of this and more. I fear rejection and humiliation if my speech doesn’t go as planned.
Don’t you sometimes feel the same if you have to give a presentation? Do you get tense at an interview where all attention is on you?? I bet you do!
How did I overcome this fear? Well, I practiced!
I once told my professor at MCC, Mrs. Ilene Benz that I got butterflies right before I had to perform a speech (I did not tell her that right before delivering a speech, being a butterfly sounded much better than being myself – so I could escape!). She told me that not all butterflies are bad, some are good and to use them as a form of energy.
I also did a lot of research and came across an article in “Toastmasters” magazine (Toastmasters International. Keep Losing the Fear) that the BEST of public speakers have fears and they too stumble. Although they have extensive practice and some have made careers out of delivering speeches, they STILL forget. One of the tips I found interesting was that a good speaker is one who knows how to cover-up their mistakes. They are ready to improvise.
“Toastmasters International. Keep Losing the Fear” https://www.toastmasters.org/leadership-central/featured-article/november-2020
A few things to know before a presentation, interview or a casual conversation:
Know your CLAIM; what is it that you want to convey through your message? What do you want your audience to remember?
Keep your message SIMPLE. Simple sells and simple is remembered!
It is essential that when you make a mistake while delivering a speech, a presentation or talking publicly in any capacity (and you will!), REMEMBER that you are the only one that knows.
Improvise and wing it, just don’t let it show.
Stop, take a moment; act as if this pause is intentional, breathe and move on.
Above all remember to forgive yourself!
Public Speaking is a skill and like all skills you have to practice to get better at your craft.
I figured after taking this class that I LOVE public speaking! It’s really NOT what I imagined it to be. It is not painful. So I take my words back, I would rather ATTEMPT public speaking than have surgery without anesthesia!
By: Aysha Humayun
