Tongue-Tied?

How do we react when we have to speak in public, in front of an audience? Do the knees quake? Does the mind go blank? Does the mouth turn dry? Do the palms sweat? Is there a string urge to turn around and flee?

This is not an uncommon phenomenon, for this dread is shared by millions of people around the world. What is the reason for this fear? It is a fear of looking foolish and uninformed in public.

When speaking in public, this fear translates into a trembling voice, disjointed words, or, even total inability to make the words come out. There is a feeling of humiliation.

So, what do we do to overcome this fear?

The very first step to avoid making foolish mistakes is to be very well prepared. Just as sportsmen, actors, and so on prepare carefully before each performance, we must be very clear about what we are going to speaking about, and about whom we are going to address. Leave nothing to chance. Being prepared implies that we are prepared for eventualities.

If it is a speech we have to make, we must practice it many times before we go up. The more we practice it, the more naturally will it come out. It is a great idea to practice by speaking aloud in private. This will tell us how we sound. Having done this, it would be very useful to speak before a small friendly audience such as your family or close friends.

It does happen, sometimes, that we momentarily forget the next sentence or thought, and a feeling of panic immediately sets in. Having a small paper with the critical points listed on it helps.

We need to always start with the basic assumption that the audience is friendly, and is made up of people who want us to speak well. They are not there to criticize. Our confidence improves, and our body language reflects this new-found confidence.

Taking a deep breath before we begin speaking is a sure aid in calming us down. It also gives time to take a quick look at the audience and mentally scan through our list of points before we start.