“How to gain Confidence through Speaking”

Can’t I just read a book or watch a video to gain Confidence in Public Speaking?

Well as long as you asked, I have to say, No, not really. Now I know I’m offending many Speakers that hold other opinions, but that’s my view.

Public Speaking and Presentations are physical, active, interactive, and frequently, emotionally involved events. Does Reading about Speaking serve a purpose? Of course it does, but it‘s not a suitable alternative to Learn by doing… that is, to Learn How to Speak Confidently... by Speaking.

Books, DVD’s, Videos, NLP, Hypnotherapy, and even Drugs may offer a piece to solving the puzzle of “How do I become a  Confident Speaker.” Nevertheless, I don’t believe that any of the aforementioned are a suitable substitute for actually Speaking. So, what about Confidence & Speaking? Well,

Actually standing up and saying what’s on your mind is Empowering. It’s the repetition that builds your Confidence. As you build your Confidence, you’ll take more risks. And when you take more risks, you’ll try new techniques which will further build your Confidence...and so it goes. And through Speaking, maybe you’ll change attitudes, inspire action, maybe You solve a problem. Now that’s a Confidence builder. Let’s say,

I write that gesturing, using your hands & arms when Speaking, is a good way to emphasize your important points, and too, it serves to keep the audience focused on You. Well that sounds good, but how does that work in actuality when you apply it? You might think, how often should I move my arms? How big should the movements be? How fast or slow should I move? How do I coordinate my gestures with my Speaking points, my Presentation, my script?

Well, You won’t know until you apply the “hands & arm’s” suggestion in a practice situation by physically Gesturing and Testing it. Maybe your body language now is constrained or stiff, and if you successfully applied this technique, it might relax your demeanor. Normally, you’re uncomfortable or embarrassed to be standing in front of a group of people. So you Test the suggestion by adding hand & arm movements. Do You feel more insecure, awkward, or “fearful”? Maybe you do, but those don’t have to be your results.

Visit tomjdolan.com for more ideas & information about building your future through Speaking

You see, the idea sounds good on paper and it seems reasonable. You think it might even give your Presentations more life, more energy. But after a few attempts, you feel uncomfortable. The gestures seem forced and unnatural, and so you discard the idea saying “oh, it’s not for me.” But,

What if there is a level of gesturing that you would be comfortable using when you Speak? But because you never Visualize & Test different gesture variations, you never discover the “Benefits of gesturing.” The unfortunate result is a lost opportunity for self-improvement and building Confidence as a Speaker or Presenter.

Yes, the technique is in the book right there in front of you, but for some reason you can’t seem to make it work. That doesn’t mean you couldn’t successfully apply the technique in the right learning situation. And that’s one of the Primary reasons to work with a Trainer or Coach: to move You from the negative to the plus side of Speaking.

As I stated in video post #11 OJT*, an excellent way to learn Speaking is by Speaking. Working with a Teacher can shorten the learning curve by guiding you out of your “Comfort Zone” into more productive behavior. Of course you can always stay at your present level of performance, but if you’re reading this article, I don’t think you want to do that. So, break-free of your self imposed constraints. You’ll be a more Confident, more effective Speaker, and you’ll produce better results because you’ll know how.

How do You become a Speaker? Speak!How do You become a Better Speaker? SpeaK More Often!

*OJT: On the Job Training.

Tom j Dolan, the Author, is a Trainer/Coach and the producer of “Performance of Speaking” a video website devoted to Training & Coaching beginning & experienced Speakers who want to contribute to the public conversations shaping the future of our Communities, our Country, and our Planet.

Visit tomjdolan.com for more ideas & information about building your future through Speaking