I have very few memories of my life at age
three, which is probably a good thing looking back, but I’ll never forget the day
when I had to address a church audience with over four hundred members.
I don’t know
what the occasion was but Grandma Crookston, who is by no stretch of the imagination a
preacher, was up on the platform giving a talk. Suddenly I heard her calling me up to the
lectern and Mom was pushing me out of my seat.
Obediently, I
went up front. Grandma told the audience that I had memorized some scriptures and was
going to recite them. She propped a chair backwards against the podium and lifted me up.
My little heart
sank. I saw all of those people out there looking back at me…waiting for me to talk.
It was the spookiest occurrence of my youth. And then there was a long silence which
seemed to stretch into forever, really only a few seconds, before I realized I wasn’t
going back to my seat without saying a few words. I took a deep breath and then as fast as
I could, recited the scriptures Grandma had requested before jumping off the chair and
making like a madman back to my seat and permanently damaged by stage fright.
I’ve spent
the remainder of my life since then, trying to be “comfortable” in front of an
audience.
Speaking
I’ve found, goes way beyond a public gathering. Each time you open your mouth, you
are speaking in public, unless of course, you are talking to yourself. Here are a couple
of tips to breeze your way through the stage fright and keep you from looking like a fool.
Rule number
one. Don’t speak unless you have something to say. Rambling for no good reason is
annoying.
Posture. When
you speak, stand up straight. This keeps your message from dribbling out of your mouth and
falling somewhere down by your knees. Good posture allows you to project your message out
to your listener. Good posture also makes you appear confident and in control of the
situation.
Eye Contact.
Connect with your audience by looking them directly in the eye. This rule applies if
you’re speaking to a large group or an individual. Eye contact allows immediate
feedback that your message was heard and understood.
Articulate your
words. The only thing worse than a mumbler is a nervous mumbler with stage fright. Speak
clearly so people can understand you.
Breathe.
It’s easy when speaking, especially when you’re nervous or unsure of yourself,
to hold your breath. This causes a pinched tone which makes you sound like you’re
lying or scared. Breathe deeply and slowly when you talk. This will send oxygen to your
brain so you can think about what you are saying, and it will make you appear calm and
collected.
Don’t
fidget. Toying with keys, rings, pens and a pocket full of change only create distractions
in your conversation or speech. Keep your hands free so you can use them to illustrate
your point or tell a story. Your hands should enhance your speech, not detract from it.
Practice. Get
comfortable speaking in front of two, three, five or ten people. The stage fright may
never go away, but you can learn to manage it with practice. The people in this world who
get ahead, who get job promotions, who make the most sales, and run successful companies,
are the people who can speak confidently in front of others.
Angela
Brown © 2002, Angela@WordsofWellness.com |
