Oral English
Thank you, Ms. Schindel! She was my public speaking (referred to as oral English at my middle school) teacher in 7th grade. This makes sense since she was the drama teacher. My final speech for the class was on nagging mothers and I played audio of my mother (which I secretly recorded). My mother was a computer teacher at the school, so Ms. Schindel was worried about what she should do if she saw her in the teacher's lounge. My response was "Not my problem!"
Fear of public speaking is dreaded more than dying. Wow! Having taken public speaking, I feel that I am a clear communicator, and I am comfortable with it. Are you? "Most people are not aware of this, but public speaking is feared more than death itself. It sounds crazy, but that's what people say. Is there any truth to this? In fact, the vast majority of people rank fear of public speaking as number one – 75% according to the National Institutes of Mental Health." — Harj Gahley, LinkedIn.
How does one combat this fear?
1. Practice, practice, practice (know your topic inside and out).
2. Channel your stress into excitement and your audience will be excited too.
3. Breathe deeply.
4. Pause if needed and don't worry. (Pauses are good.)
5. "Get support. Join a group that offers support for people who have a hard time with public speaking. One effective resource is Toastmasters International, a nonprofit organization with local chapters that focuses on training people to speak and lead well." — Craig Sawchuck, PhD., Mayo Clinic.
Being good at public speaking isn't just for presentations and staff meetings. It helps you understand how to communicate clearly. This is important for all your relationships, especially the ones with your children and/or significant other. As the saying goes, "If you don't ask for what you want, you won't get it." This is true for a raise or a promotion as much as getting your children to set the table and/or your partner to make the bed each day. Clear communication is the key to a strong relationship.
Years ago, I realized that if I asked my daughter to set the table, she could say, "No." If I told her to set the table, then she did it. It took a while for her to realize that I was no longer asking, but she got it. The point is that my communication got clearer on what I wanted. I coupled this with explaining to her that she and I were on the team "keeping up the home." This meant that we both had to do our part to maintain the home. Now setting the table became an act of being a team player and not a command from mom. A+ for me!
Organizations to help you overcome your fear of public speaking:
Acting class or community theater
Local public speaking coach