Do you have difficulty speaking before other people?

[terrya]

Every week here at work, we have a weekly staff meeting. We're each supposed to discuss any projects we're working on or any issues or difficulties we've had the past week. It's only 7 people...but, it's still kind of difficult talking before the group. I've always had that awkwardness. It seems sort of silly.

[Inchworm]

1. I do ok in a small group like that

I still don't like it.

Put me on a stage in front of 100s and I'd probably need a cattle prod to start speaking. Then.. look out because there is no telling what may spew out of my mouth.

:hi:

[bicentennial_baby]

2. No, never since I took Speech class...

Cured me of that fear for good. I used to be SO shy and nervous about speaking in public. After a semester consisting of several presentations/debates in front of a 30 person class, I was all good. Soon after, I gave an hourlong presentation for a packed room that included my college President, many faculty, students, friends, etc. I only wish they'd given me two hours, it was so much fun!

:hi:

Not that I'm particularly looking forward to giving my Econometrics presentation later this semester, but that's not a public speaking issue. It's a math issue. :P

[demmiblue]

14. LOL!

I always had a hard time speaking in public. However, I remember a fellow student in Speech class discussing the merits of Satanism. After that, my speech about the necessity of rain forests seemed bland!

[bicentennial_baby]

23. Ha! The turning point for me was the debate we had about

the war on terror. I was in charge of my team, and we had to debate in support of the WOT. That was...challenging.

[Shell Beau]

3. I am the world's worst! My voice changes and gets all shaky.

Terrible!

[azmouse]

4. I used to teach.

So I'd have to say no fear at all... as long as I have some idea of what I'm talking about.

[MassLiberal]

5. not silly at all

I've had the same problem my whole life, and now my teenage daughter struggles with it. She's actually been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder called selective mutism -- an extreme version of what most of us think of as shyness. It's crippling for her.

[Bake]

6. Nope. I like to go first. And last.

:rofl:

Bake

[Phillycat]

7. Nope. I am a total ham. :)

If I'd ever had a problem with it (and I didn't) AA would have cured it for sure. Nothing like sharing your deepest darkest secrets with 200 of your closest strangers. :D

[Iggo]

8. For years and years I talked a couple times a week...

...in front of one or another group of anonymous drug addicts. Three to five minutes. Mostly off-the-cuff. But I still suck at talking in front of my co-workers at meetings. I don't get it.

[deucemagnet]

9. Fear of public speaking is common, and can be severe,

but as bi-baby mentioned, a good public speaking course can help you get over it. Initially, I rolled my eyes when I found out that my alma mater required that you take a public speaking course, but it has served me well in graduate school and in my professional life.

[mondo joe]

10. I often speak in front of others - it's always worst with the people I know best.

But the one thing that always helps me is to simply say, in front of my audience, that I'm nervous about speaking to them.

You get their sympathy, you relax a bit because you fessed up, and it's usually better then.

[Oeditpus Rex]

11. I think most people can learn to be comfortable with this

There are public speaking classes at community colleges and adult schools, and there's Toastmasters.

Being born a ham, I never had a real problem with it outside of "normal" nervousness, but I got good at it in the Jaycees (they have a program called Speak-Up). Once I gave my first "big" speech to about 150 people, my confidence shot way up, and I actually got a bit of a reputation as an orator.

One of the key elements is preparation. It helps a lot to know what you're gonna say and how you're gonna say it. Impromptu is tougher, but the aforementioned classes or Toastmasters can help.

[EstimatedProphet]

12. I've always had a hard time speaking in public about anything

and "public" means anything other than with a couple friends. I guest-taught a class on statistics this week, and even though it was only 4 people I worked myself into a frenzy to the point that I couldn't sleep the night before or even after I did it.

[huskerlaw]

13. Depends.

Normally, it's not an issue, but I absolutely hate it if I'm not prepared, or if I feel like I don't know enough about the subject.

I used to be deathly afraid of public speaking, but law school pretty well cured me of that. Now I teach, so I spend 2 hours at a time in front of a room full of students. That was unnerving at first, but I'm in my second year now and it really doesn't phase me.

[BOSSHOG]

15. I love being on the podium

I often had instructor duty in the Navy and I totally enjoyed being up in front and instructing. I also did TV news, I must have some Ham in my DNA.

[NewWaveChick1981]

16. I did for a long time...

...but my profession calls for me to do extemporaneous talks with both large and small groups of people. I really had to start doing it about ten years ago. After giving those talks three or four times, I got used to it, and it's comfortable now. :) It just takes a lot of practice.

[Mugu]

17. I don't like public speaking,

but will do it when necessary.

Regards, Mugu

[pookieblue]

18. yes, I have a lot of trouble speaking in front of others..

even if I have to get up in front of my coworkers...who I talk to everyday. I'm fine with speaking to one or two... but more than that. I get so shy.

[redqueen]

19. Only a little.

Depends on what I have to talk about & the people in the audience.

[MANative]

20. Never - It's what I do for a living.

If anything, I really enjoy it. For years, I coached executives who were fearful speakers to improve their skills and comfort level. The single most important strategy is to know what you're talking about. Confidence in your knowledge is absolutely necessary, and that can be used to fuel confidence in how you share that information.

It's not silly - I've known and worked with senior level execs making ridiculous amounts of money who tremble at the idea of speaking to more than one person at a time. It's supposedly the #1 most common fear, even far above flying. Guess I'm the weird one!!

[Dora]

21. No. And I wish I could.

But my job doesn't require that of me. I love speaking to crowds - I'm a former speech and drama geek.

[Maddy McCall]

22. I used to.

Leftover PTSD stuff. But my job depends on my ability to do lectures...the first few class meetings are always a little nerve-wracking, but I get the feel for my class, and then it becomes really easy by the third or fourth meeting.

After I left my abusive marriage, I couldn't even walk down an aisle at the grocery store if someone else was already there. I couldn't look people in the eyes when they talked to me.