I used to be so shy. When I was younger I wouldn't even order my own food at a restaurant. Now I stand in front of 30, 40+ college students three times a week, 2 hours each time, and lecture. Somehow I managed to get over the shyness.
I still get shy during certain situations. When I lecture to an audience that's older than me I get nervous. Such as making a speech at graduation time, a day where parents come to see the college (I'm supposed to be social), and at a time when I spoke to a room full of high school art teachers.
Daddy can't speak in crowds. He literally freezes up. I can. For some odd reason I like speaking to a full house, than a half of one. I find that there's more interaction if there's more people in the room.
I got Shaking Behind the Microphone Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking By: Jill Ammon Vanderwood to review, and giveaway.
I read it to relay information over to Daddy, share tips with my students, and seek out tips for myself.
About the Book:
The book has different segments from a variety of people. They talk about their fears in regards to public speaking, and ways to overcome them.
Some Tips from the Book:
- Go to Toastmasters. My boss has talked about me going there. They focus on public speaking.
- Keep hydrated, and eat normal hours. This couldn't be more true. I drink so much when I lecture. It helps to not have a dry mouth. When I had to fast, I could barely function. You don't want to faint when you are lecturing.
- Be yourself. When I first started teaching I was trying to act strict. I wanted to come off as a hard instructor, that expects a lot. That isn't me. Now I can joke around, and guess what? My students still work hard. They know what I want because I show them examples.
- Practice to yourself. I don't always have time before every lecture to practice. In the beginning I had to go over things a lot! Now that I've been doing this teaching gig for 10 years, I can skip the lectures I know.
- The more you do it, the better it gets. It's true!
- Know the material. Most things I do know. There are times I cover things I don't. I have to research and practice those things more.
- Get comfortable with the room you will be speaking in. Don't let the equipment in the room get in the way with your presentation. I see this happening a lot with freelance instructors. They don't know how to plug their computers into the monitor, and sound is foreign to them.
- Ask if there are questions in the end. This opens the room up for further dialog.
- Write down basics if needed on note cards. There is no need to write a book when presenting. Just the basics to keep things going.
- Don't rely on the PowerPoint, or Keynote to present. This is the one I need to work on! Teaching in an art college, things can get pretty visual sometimes. I have to show students what I'm talking about to relay what I expect out of their work. I'm doing better about not looking at the screen when I talk.
Jill Ammon Vanderwood is an author and speaker from Utah. She has written award winning nonfiction books, What's It Like, Living Green? Kids Teaching Kids, by the Way They Live and Drugs Make You Un-Smarter, co-authored with her teenage granddaughter.
Jill takes on environmental and literacy causes, and she is an active fundraiser. Her husband is a professional Santa Claus, she is Mrs. Claus.
It's a really good read! Open to the US. A $12.99 value. On sale for $10.99.
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