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- $Unique_ID{BRK02486}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{How Can I Learn To Speak In Front Of Audiences?}
- $Subject{talking fear social phobia speech voice fears community social
- problem problems behavior behaviors lifestyle lifestyles work place speak
- speaking speeches voices voicing vocal vocalization vocalizations public
- audience audiences}
- $Volume{Q-23}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (c) 1992,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
-
-
- How Can I Learn To Speak In Front Of Audiences?
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- QUESTION: Despite all my protest, I have been elected to head up a local
- organization. And that means getting up and talking in front of an audience.
- I just can't do that. I have dreaded this situation since my days in school,
- and can just feeling myself getting sick merely by thinking about it. But I
- would like to overcome this fear, once and for all. What can you suggest,
- besides professional help?
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- ANSWER: You have already taken a big first step, by recognizing the problem
- out in the open, and deciding to do something about. When a fear is as
- serious as your seems to be, it is given the name of a "phobia", and your
- particular type, though less common than other types, falls under the
- classification of "social phobia".
- Most everyone has experienced an anxiety before presenting a speech,
- reading a poem in class, or singing a jingle in a class show. That's a normal
- anxiety, and though difficult to overcome sometimes, usually does not prevent
- the individual from participating in the event. Though not absolute
- cure-alls, here are some suggestions you might try on your own. Start work on
- overcoming the problem by preparing your remarks well ahead of time. Write
- your notes legibly, and make them as complete as necessary. You must feel
- totally prepared and eradicate any negative thoughts about failing, or messing
- up. You know you can always just read your notes to get through the
- presentation.
- Now rehearse a bit. First, when you are alone. Just say the words out
- loud, get used to the sound of your own voice. Now try it in front of a
- mirror; see, you are getting better all the time. Next, try a sympathetic
- member of your family, just read the material while sitting at the dinner
- table, nothing formal about that. You might next try standing up in the
- middle of your room, a friend or member of the family as willing audience.
- You might want to give it a trial run through, on your own, but in the
- actual locale of the meeting. Call it a dress rehearsal. Be patient with
- yourself, it takes time to overcome the fears of a lifetime. It can be done,
- and you can do it alone. And if not, there is still that professional help
- you asked me not to discuss.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-
-