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Everyone hears about being nervous when speaking, and when you defeat the fearsome Dragons, you become confident and very successful.
What you don’t hear from successful speakers is about the journey itself.
How did they conquer their Dragons?
For example, when I started in the field of speaking, I was a corporate employee.
As a project engineer, I had to develop concepts and designs to solve problems within the plant.
I was good at this and yet my career progress was slow because I simply couldn’t speak well, and I needed to present my proposals to obtain funding.
I would become nervous, tongue tied and confused.
Because of my nerves, when questions were asked, I couldn’t focus and was not able to explain the solution in a clear, concise manner.
And you know what the worst was?
I couldn’t convey the pride, satisfaction and excitement that I felt about achieving the solution!
So out of frustration, I decided to take up public speaking to improve my presentation skills.
That was easier said than done because even the thought of doing presentations, chilled me to the bone.
And with due cause, I might add.
I have had experiences where I went blank or said the wrong thing, and have been ridiculed for those mistakes.
I bought some books but they all seemed so complicated and intimidating, so I just couldn’t get going.
So I joined Forum, the Public Speaking Group of the Australian Institute of management and in the first year, managed to attend one meeting.
In the second year I attended more meetings and gradually, my skills improved, although painfully slowly.
At the end of the year, when I gave my speech for the “Most Improved Speaker of the Year, I went blank in the middle and almost collapsed with embarrassment.
(Lucky for me, the following year I received this prestigious award)
However, during those years, all I seemed to be getting was criticism of how I spoke, what I said and whilst I was speaking better, my stress levels were going through the roof.
So eventually, I developed my own style, where I could be kind to myself, particularly when I had finished my speech.
I stopped worrying about what I had done wrong and focussed on doing more of what I had done right.
And in doing that, I realised that I was presenting better and enjoying myself.
Then I became Chairman of Forum, and applied the same principles to new members.
I.e., “Focus on your strengths and your weaknesses will die away.”
Because Public Speaking puts your whole being on the line, with all your own, imagined vulnerabilities exposed, it is the greatest opportunity for Personal growth.
So overcoming the fear and building the skills, step by step, not only transforms your presentation skills, it builds your confidence in all parts of your life.
And that’s a good enough reason to start!
Roger Bourne
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