Fear Of Public Speaking - You're Not Alone
By Jordi Shoman
How many times have you attended a public meeting where you had something important to say, but your fear of speaking in public kept you silent?
You are not alone. There are many people that have a great fear of public speaking. This is something that you do have to accept as permanent. While you can easily voice your opinion, when you are in a small group of people whom you know well. It is an entirely different situation when you are faced with speaking in front of a group of strangers.
Even though public speaking is encouraged in school, only a few students actually master the art. For one thing, you do have to like getting up in front of people to make a speech; and you do need to have something worthwhile to say.
You don't need to have a speech of three or four pages in most circumstances, but you do need to have your thoughts well-organized. Then you can present what you have to say clearly. Stuttering and stammering only make the listeners aware of the depth of your fear.
For many people, speaking in public is a necessary part of the job. In these cases, they may need to take classes to help them get over their shyness and get help with writing effective speeches. The writing does require a good grasp of the mechanics of English grammar; so you don't make any faux pas that will spoil what you have to say.
Even something as simple as an introduction can turn into a joke, if you are unsure of your ability to speak. I once attended a dinner where the speaker invited the minister to say grace by saying. "I would like to call on our new pasture to ask the blessing for this meal."
