Public Speaking: A Voice Coach's POV

Public Speaking.

Well, we all have to do it at some point, be it a private 1-2-1 conversation, a small group or a big auditorium filled with masses of people. Even though the audience numbers can vary from small to large, the same gut-wrenching feeling can come up for most people who have glossophobia (speech anxiety or fear of public speaking).

At the end of the day, public speaking is just a form of communication - a form of communication that we use every single day - speaking in public. Sometimes the environments in which we communicate are more casual and other times more rigid. These are all social behaviours that we have developed over time to which we make the choice to adhere to.

Let's start reflecting on how we communicate on a daily basis... think about your own needs, wants, thoughts and ideas. Have you found a way to express them to the people around you? Perhaps, you've only expressed them to the people in your inner circle (family, partners, friends, etc). Well, you're doing pretty well already, aren't you?

Now, if only we can use exactly the same simple technique of sharing our needs, wants thoughts and ideas with a bigger circle of people reaching beyond your inner circle. What's different? With a bigger circle of people, comes less control of how we can manage their expectations and our own expectations as well.

As human beings, it is natural to us to want to be able to control everything around us to fit what we like and will accept. With our own lived experiences, I'm sure most of us know that controlling everything around us, 1. is not easy and 2. will fail at some point, due to either personal exhaustion or exhaustion of your relationship(s) with these people.

The only solution I have found through my own lived and teaching experience is that, we must trust our own stories and voices to carry our message. It takes lots of courage to listen to your inner voice and to trust ourselves. If we are too focussed on managing all the external challenges around the matter, we are not focusing on the pivotal aspect that has the potential to change all the perspectives of those around us.

I challenge you to be brave and try to turn down the volume of your perceived thoughts and judgments made of yourself and others. Focus solely on the intention of your message. There is no need to worry or be fearful because most of it is made up in our own heads!

Delve deep in knowing why you are moved to share your message and the rest will come as it should.

Be kind to yourself, we often are our own harshest critics. You'll do just fine!

Sylvie Lui is a Voice and Presentations Coach in London, UK - www.sylvielui.com

Upcoming Posts: 'Public Speaking - A 5-part series on Voice Techniques'