- Here’s An Opinion On:
- Business Communication Skills Training South Africa
Submitted by: MATT SCH0ENHERR
One of the best ways to market yourself is to get in front of people, face-to-face. Of course, one of the best ways to get in front of people is to get into public speaking. Surveys have shown, however, public speaking consistently ranks among the top three fears for folks:
1. Snakes 51%
2. Speaking in public 40%
3. Heights 36%
4. Being closed in a small space 34%
5. Spiders and insects 27%
6. Needles and getting shots 21%
7. Mice 20%
8. Flying on a plane 18%
9. Dogs 11%
10. Thunder and lightning 11%
11. Crowds 11%
12. Going to the doctor 9%
(Gallup Poll, February 18-21, 2001, with 1,016 respondents; +/- 3%. Retrieved on October 18, 2010 from http://www.faceyourfearstoday.com/Top_10_Fears.html.)
A second top fears list shows the following:
1. Fear of flying
2. Fear of public speaking
3. Fear of heights
4. Fear of the dark
5. Fear of intimacy
6. Fear of death
7. Fear of failure
8. Fear of rejection
9. Fear of spiders
10. Fear of commitment
(Retrieved on October 18, 2010 from http://www.selfhelpcollective.com/top-10-fears.html.)
Yes, public speaking appears to steadily maintain its power over us, out shadowing even death. No doubt for most of us, our own death is a distant, abstract idea compared to being thrust before a group of people who are clinging to our every word. For many, the first taste of public speaking began in grade school in the form of show and tell, a school play or recital. Eventually, these gave way to spelling bees, book reports and presentations. B
.
As they say in Toastmasters, it is not about getting rid of the butterflies; it is about getting them to fly in formation. Whether you are explaining services or participating in staff meetings, effective communication is vital in today s business world. For more than eighty years, Toastmaster clubs have provided a safe, friendly forum where members are encouraged to develop and improve their presentation and leadership skills.
For the price of a couple cups of coffee each month, you get all this? You get people who will listen to you, coach you, support you and cheer for you for a few hours each month? Absolutely.
You don t even have to join right away. On your first visit to a local club, you will be warmly received by the VP of Membership. This person will tell you all about the merits of Toastmasters and they will even hand you an application form, but if you are thinking you need more time, most clubs will encourage you to take all the time you need. After all, not everyone is cut out for this; it takes guts to join a Toastmasters club.
Your mission should you choose to accept it is to conquer your fear of public speaking. Get started today. You say you don t know where to start? You may go to http://www.toastmasters.org to find a club near you. As with most Toastmaster clubs, it costs nothing to visit (as many times as you need) and there is no obligation to join.
In support of your efforts,
Matt
About the Author: Matt Schoenherr is a husband, father of four, business owner (
dreamscapemultimedia.com
) in web design, and a marketing consultant. Matt’s blog at
mattschoenherr.com
analyzes marketing concepts, delivers marketing ideas and occasionally explores the more magical side of life.
Source:
isnare.com
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