I am currently reading "The Art of Public Speaking" by Dale Carnegie. Published in 1915 I have never read this book before and I wish I had a lot sooner because I think it is excellent. I could have used this sound council presented in this book many years ago.
Chapter one is entitled "Acquiring Confidence Before an Audience".
The fear many of us have had or currently have about getting up in front of an audience and speaking is not uncommon. "What will they think of me?" "What if I freeze up or stutter and stammer and make a fool of myself?" "Everyone will be looking at me!" These thoughts and many more have all gripped us at one level or another sometime in our life in regards to public speaking!
There are three points I would like to highlight from what I read in chapter one"
1. Do not make haste to begin and speak often.
Not only is beginning your speech quickly, once you are in front of your audience. a good idea, I believe this also applies for us in Toastmasters to scheduling your speech. The sooner the better. We in toastmaster of course handle this in a kind and gentle manner but I believe jumping right in is a great way to overcome the fear as you have a shorter time to worry yourself about it and just get it started!
As Mr Carnegie puts it in his book " You must learn to speak by speaking!"
2. Have something to say and practice, practice, practice!
You are a messenger with a message to deliver! A worthy message, that if you hold it deeply will help you to focus on that rather than undue self consciousness about yourself. You are not the exhibit here before the audience, you are the messenger with a worthy message for the audience. These truths are not only more important than you they are more important than the audience as well, as truth is eternal! When you practice and are prepared this also goes a long way of alleviating anxiety.
3. Finally Be courageous and Face Your Fear!
You can do this! It is within you to overcome this fear and present the truths that you have to share.
I was visiting another Toastmasters club recently. One of the speakers was a young woman and she was new to Toastmasters and If I am not mistaken this was her Ice Breaker Speech. Regardless, she was new to public speaking and when I say she was nervous that is a very large understatement! She was literally shaking! Her legs and hands shaking uncontrollably and her voice was very stressed as she spoke. She told us about her immigration from Venezuela and the hardships that she and her family faced there! She went on to tell us about how when she got the the United States how kind and friendly everyone was to her and her loved ones as they came here to start a new life. I am not overstating to say she was very scared to give her speech that day, but she did it anyway! She faced her fear! We all offered words of encouragement and conducted a round robin evaluation. I tell you this and I mean this not at all in a condescending way, I was very proud of her! This is what courage looks like!
In closing I would like to quote Dale Carnegie in regards to this fear of public speaking and what he has said to overcome it:
"Is all this unsympathetic do you say? Man, What you need is not sympathy but a push!"
We here in Toastmasters are not drill Sargents pushing you and demanding you drop and give us fifty push ups when you make a mistake!
We will support you and help you along the way and we may gently push you a little as well! I can't wait to hear your next speech!
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