Great Communication Skills: A Leap Of Faith

GREAT COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR YOUR WORK AND LIFE

Let me say this, right here, at the get go:

Great communication skills are not only essential to our business lives. They are the foundation and bedrock of a happy fulfilling life too.

So let’s get started.

NOW YOU HAVE A REAL LIVE AUDIENCE: YIKES!

So now you have your speech all written out and it’s time for you to face an actual AUDIENCE and give a speech or presentation. Whether it is an audience of one or a thousand, you’re probably really nervous.

UH OH! THEY’RE WATCHING!

I thought so! Jeez, I can hear you all whining, pouting and screaming from here!

START TALKING…

Well from my experience, here is the typical conversation I will probably have with you at some point in your professional speaking career when you work with me. Let’s just get it all out in the open right here, right now:

(YOU) “UH OHHHH!!! I have to give a SPEECH! YIKES! ALL those PEOPLE!”

(MA) “You got a problem with people? They’re only people after all.”

(YOU:) “Only people? Are you kidding me? That means I have to get up there, ALL BY MYSELF, and face a HUGE sea of PEOPLE! All those EYEBALLS…..”

(MA) “Yup. That’s right. And your point?”

(YOU) “Oh great, you’re a big help. Don’t you understand me Mary Anne? I’m gonna DIE out there! In fact, I’m feeling SICK TO MY STOMACH already just thinking about it. They  probably won’t like ME or ANYTHING I have to SAY!”

(MA) “Not necessarily.”

(YOU) “Clearly you just don’t get it Mary Anne! Even a WHITE HOT POKER IN MY EYE or A ROOT CANAL sounds better than giving a speech!”

(MA) “Wow. We sure have hit a nerve here haven’t we?”

(YOU) “Actually, I’m HYPERVENTILATING here! DO something before I start looking for the nearest bridge! I swear, jumping off a bridge even sounds better than giving a speech!”

(MA) “There’s always the “Leap Of Faith” option….

 SO WHAT ABOUT THAT LEAP OF FAITH?

It does take great courage and a “Leap Of Faith” to get help on your public speaking. But why waste another moment putting it off when you can feel so much better by fixing whatever is bothering you right now?

So what’s up for you?

What’s bothering you about your current public speaking skills? Or, if you feel that you’ve got your own public speaking down cold, what advice or new skill has helped you along the way?