Public Speaking

Public speaking can be difficult for anyone. There's a lot more to it than one might think initially. Public speaking is a whole process. First, you need to prep for your audience. It is crucial to know enough about the topic you're speaking on to make valid points and have important things to say. It takes research and organization, much like writing an essay. Then comes the memorization--even if you have things written down, public speaking is not reading from a paper, and it's important to know what you want to say beforehand. Then, you need to carry yourself in a way that suggests that people should listen to you; you need to be engaging when you speak, you have to enunciate and project your voice...there are a lot of aspects to the art of public speaking. It's completely understandable why so many people (including myself) have a hard time with this important role in leadership.

Most of what the article by Paul Martin Lester focuses on is the anxiety part of public speaking. I think even the most outgoing people get jittery every now and then about speaking in front of a group of people. Lester has some great pointers in his article to help with the overcoming process of public speaking anxiety. I think it is important to address this topic because it certainly is a part of life that many people struggle with, but with proper teaching can turn into a positive learning experience and a practice in overcoming.

I have been involved in the theatre since third grade, attended a performing arts high school for acting, and am currently a directing major here at Uarts. I am terrified of public speaking. I have an extremely difficult time putting my thoughts and explanations into words. It's incredibly frustrating and I become impatient with myself and disappointed in my inability to articulate. While reading the article, I found that I am often in the position Lester was in during his undergraduate years in the classroom.

Over several years, I've become exceedingly more comfortable with speaking in a classroom setting, and just speaking in general, but even so, I'm still in the process of overcoming my own public speaking anxiety. It's much more difficult for me to make my presence known in a group of people I don't know well. I have to constantly remind myself that I have worthwhile questions to ask and responses to make. Lester's tips were good reminders for me and great starting points for others who suffer with anxiety.

In addition, Blanca's time management presentation last week can also be a helpful aspect of public speaking. For those of us who do have speaking anxiety, time management can be used for preparation and rehearsing beforehand. Time management also forces organization which as I said previously is a crucial aspect of public speaking.

"Learning to Live with Public Speaking Anxiety" by Paul Martin Lester made me feel ok about my lack of comfort on this topic. It's reassuring to know that even Lester, who now speaks in front of hundreds of people, once had an equally difficult time with speaking publicly.