Posts Tagged: public speaking tips
Guest Post: Tips on public speaking from the shy girl from high school (Oh, yeah…she’s a public speaking professor now)
Posted in Career Advice Generation Y on June 11, 2008 at 4:16 pm
By Laura O’Connell, Marketing Manager & Communication Arts Professor
I often encounter students who claim that they can’t possibly get in front of a classroom and speak because they are shy. I then tell them about myself, a “former shy girl in recovery,” in hopes that they will see a light at the end of the tunnel (the tunnel that they fear because if they speak in it, somebody might hear their echo and that would be public speaking!).
When training to be a college orientation leader several years ago, I found myself in a room of 10 people. The leader asked us each to give a short talk. When my turn came, I felt all eyes focused on me. I opened my mouth… and nothing came out. I started to shake, my heart pounded and I said quietly, “I can’t do this.”
The next day arrived and again we were asked again to give short speeches. As my turn approached, I felt the same physiological effects coming on-fear, nausea, pounding heart. I opened my mouth, and words came pouring out. And they made sense!
How did I overcome my fear in less than 24 hours? (more…)
