Mrs. Nicky Kagan
Assistant Principal
Yeshivat Or Chaim
What do most adults in North America fear more than anything? Interestingly the answer is always public speaking. The idea of getting up in front of an audience and communicating your thoughts sparks terror in many people. Statistic Brain says 75% of people suffer from glossophobia, the fear of speaking in public.
So what is it we fear about speaking in public? Is it a fear of being embarrassed or being judged, or is it the idea of being on “show” and having nothing to hide behind that is too scary to contemplate? Psychologists believe it is the fear of being ostracized and rejected which is deeply rooted in our social development.
Despite the above we all know how important it is to be able to get up in public and speak. The spoken word is an important driving force of so much in our lives. It can drive change and inspire people. The greatest public speakers have been able to inspire, for example Winston Churchill during World War II when he said, “we shall fight them on the beaches, we shall fight them in the fields… we shall never surrender,”. The British public rallied and determined they would not seek an agreement with Hitler and fight to the end. John F Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” This motivated many to become involved and led to societal change. The great “I Have a Dream” speech by Martin Luther King changed the way race was looked at in America. These are just a tiny few of the many powerful speeches which have led to fundamental change.
Shakespeare, well known for many effective speeches in his plays has Mark Antony, in the play Julius Caesar, show the power of rhetoric in his famous speech when he begins, “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him”. Antony is able to effectively sway the people and incite the mob to murder. These leaders all knew that the spoken word was the most effective way to achieve their aims.
Not only politicians, but all people benefit from being able to communicate well. Communication provides the framework for our society. In all areas of our lives the more effectively we communicate the better it is. The work world particularly requires us to be able to communicate in many different ways, and public speaking is a core skill that leads to confidence in many other areas.
So what can we do to overcome our fears and improve our speaking skills?
The first point is to know the topic. If you want to say something you need to know what it is you are going to say. Organize your thoughts in a coherent, cogent way and create an outline. Your speech should have an opening that “hooks” the audience, clear main points and a good closing.
The next point is practice, practice and practice again. Try the speech on a friend, do it in front of the mirror, time yourself. The more familiar you are with your material, the more confident you will be. You should NOT be reading a speech, and a bullet point outline helps prevent this. You don’t have to be perfect, and if you make a mistake let it go. Don’t apologize. The audience does not know you intended to say something else.
Be comfortable in your surroundings and understand your audience. Make eye contact with people in the room, and let your personality come through. Try and relax, the non verbal communication is just as important as the verbal. Be aware of your body language and try to omit nervous gestures. Stand straight and comfortable and breathe. Remember everyone is waiting to hear what you are going to say, so don’t rush. Slow is better than fast.
I know it is difficult, but try and be confident. Remember it does get easier and you improve the more times you do it.
You have done the work, now show your passion and purpose, and make an impact. Speak slowly and clearly and believe your audience is waiting to hear all you have to say.
