Don’t Gloss Over Communication Rough Spots!
When I was first starting out as a professional, there were occasions that my employer wanted me to do some public speaking. I was absolutely mortified to have to consider this daunting task! First of all, it scared me to have to create a compelling presentation to a professional audience and secondly, I was afraid to speak and be in front of people who were judging me (as least, that’s what I thought). Because of my self-degrading thoughts, my voice sounded shaky and I didn’t project very well.
At one point, I decided to ask for feedback from a seasoned speaker whom I admired, about my skills. She was completely honest and gave me the critique I needed to hear. It was a balance of my strengths and my opportunities for growth. She uncovered some things I didn’t even know that I did. For example, I smacked my lips and it was such a distraction! She also told me that sometimes I sounded like I was talking down to the audience with the words that I used. Yikes! That certainly wasn’t my intention.
The moral of the story is that I was doing things that I didn’t even know I was doing. Having someone point them out to me was so valuable and so helpful!
What about you? Do you fear public speaking and wish you could speak with more confidence? If you are nervous, you are probably showing it somehow in your speech and voice. Did you know that credibility, confidence and trustworthiness are all compromised without communication skills that rock?
We can help you become aware of your strengths as a speaker and your development opportunites. Imagine the possibilities! Give me an hour of your time, and I’ll show you how to increase your credibility and self-confidence through your speaking skills!
The first step is to get an assessment of your speech, language and voice skills.