Your knees are shaking as you make your way towards the lectern. You can feel the hot spot light shining on your back like a ray of sun that has suddenly turned up a few hundred degrees. Your eyes cross as you look out towards the rolling sea of anxious faces and you wonder how many people in the audience are silently laughing at the way the light is making the sweat on your upper lip glisten and drip. You can feel the world starting to twist and turn as you take a large gasp of air and begin to wonder whether you will ever see the light of day again. “Kill me now!” you whisper as small black splotches begin to appear in the corners of your vision and you can feel the cheerios you gulped down for breakfast slowly making their way back up your throat. “It’s okay,” your more confident side persuades. “It will be over soon.”
If you are anything like me, this scenario is exactly the way you feel every time you are required to perform, speak or do anything in front of an audience. The world seems to go out of line and butterflies erupt in your stomach like a volcano waiting for the appropriate moment to explode. This is one of the main reasons why I decided that for my ELI this semester I wanted to research ways to become a better public speaker and leader. I believe that good communication skills are important, and by learning the techniques necessary to become a better public speaker and leader, I will be able to develop some of those skills and overcome the fear of speaking in front of others.
As I have set out on my journey to discover ways to become a better public speaker, one thing that has been continually emphasized is the importance of practicing. In almost every book and article I have read, the authors have all pointed out how without practice there is no improvement. It is by practicing that a person will be able to realize the areas she needs to improve so she can make the necessary adjustments. Many of the books and articles I have read offered ways to practice public speaking. Some of the suggestions included performing in front of small audiences, rehearsing in front of a mirror, and speaking thoughts out loud. By taking these simple steps, a person will not only be setting herself up for success but also creating a definite strategy for overcoming last minute jitters and nervous butterflies.
Besides the aspect of practicing, one thing I have found very interesting about my topic is the importance of listening to others. Whether speaking, leading or communicating, if a person wants to be effective in each of these areas then she needs to be able to listen to the ideas, thoughts and reactions of others. It is through listening and accepting others that a person is able to build credibility, relationships, and overall success. Without good listening skills it is almost impossible to convince others to listen to you. If they think that all you care about is getting your point across, and you appear not to care about anyone else’s opinion, then they will shut down and be uninterested in the things you have to say.
Learning how to communicate and speak effectively is an important and constantly used tool in our society; it is used in many aspects of life including businesses, relationships and regular day to day interactions. With the techniques I have learned so far and the techniques I will to learn in the future, I am hoping to be able to pass on my knowledge to others and implement my new found knowledge into each of these areas.
-Elli
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