First Fear

Public speaking comes easy to some but not so for others.

I realised that I had some ability in public speaking only after making mistakes such as having up to 40+ pause fillers in my speech and also forgetting bits of my speech even as it was being coughed out in front of a live audience. My ability came after doing 10+5+5 speeches along with at least 30-40 table-topics over an interrupted span of 5 years in toastmastering.

Some evaluators have been gentle with me. Some have been harsh but fair, others have been harsh and unfair [but these were the minority].

What I learnt from my toastmastering experience was the fear of speaking is very real. There is something about fearing ridicule, laughter or embarrassment that triggers the flight or fight instinct in us. That is why I try my best to smile at first time public speakers doing their first few speeches from the Basic Leadership and Communication Manual because it can be so hard for them to overcome their inate fear of embarrassment or "malu-ing" [embarassing in malay] themselves in front of an audience. By smiling, I show support and I also empathise with how difficult it is when one gets a negative reaction from a frowing listener.

Looking back at my toastmastering, I realise that the benefits come now as I am more confident in dealing with interviews and speaking situations at the workplace compared to what I was 5 years ago.

If you are a new toastmaster and continue to struggle with the fear. Brother or sister in public speaking, I share your fear. The fear IS REAL. The fear CAN be PALPABLE. But the good news is that the fear can be overcome with practice, practice and practice as well as mentorship and genuine coaching. I saw the benefits of my toastmastering experience and my ability in speaking off-the-cuff after training my mind to be able to handle table-topics. This ability is one of the greatest tangible benefits I have received from my investments in my time with toastmasters.

If you are discouraged over your toastmasters performance, my suggestion is to HANG IN THERE. It will get better but in the short-term it may get worse before it gets better. In each of us, there will be this "ah-ha" or eureka moment where it finally clicks for you how all the components of a excellent speech come into play. The combination of content, genuine conviction in what you have to say and being able to use voice, gestures, tone, pace and all the toastmasters skills to deliver an effective speech will materalise.

And when it does, you will be so glad that you stuck with it and managed to reap the rewards for doing so.

Public speaking can be hard for some. But it can be so rewarding when you are able to do it.