1). What makes you apprehensive about public speaking? (Read the chapter first, and make sure to include chapter material in your answer).
Working at a financial corporation for 6 years and managing a team of 23 employees, I have had ample practice speaking in front of large groups. From weekly meetings with my team, to delivering PowerPoint presentations to my peers and superiors, I did not find any discomfort or have any apprehension with public speaking. Quite honestly, I enjoy it. I take pleasure in being the focus of attention. However, I do feel like I can improve on a few of my skills as a public speaker. “Start planning and preparing your speech early” (Coopman 31), this would be an area I repeatedly neglected and found myself, “free-styling” as I called it, in front of my audience. I plan on giving more attention to this area. During my tenure at my previous position I was an expert in my topic. Therefore, not much research was involved when preparing for any public speaking events. In this class I anticipate speaking on a variety of topics. Therefore, requiring me to become an expert on the topic prior to giving my speech.
I feel in the same boat as yourself. I have done extensive public speaking with the Department of Corrections, as I worked there for many years. Your quote from the book made me laugh because, like yourself, I was very familiar with what I was teaching so there was little to no preparation that went into my presentations. I found that the more I tried to prepare, the worse I did and ended up just using nothing that I had prepared :/ I feel that I do far better just kind of winging it also. I tend to kind of talk a lot, especially when I am passionate on the topic, and I didn't read anything about how to deal with the "over speaker" in the book. Haha. I am hoping that I don't get to many lashes from the teacher as I attempt this all at the college level. I am sure you will be great and I look forward to hearing you speak. I am sure it will be interesting and get a feel it may have a little humor when appropriate. Best of luck to you
ReplyDeleteSee, I am in the opposite position. I am not a huge fan of being the center of attention. I don't seek it out, nor do I really feel like I am missing out by not favoring the spotlight. But I will say that I have in the past envied people to appear to be able to speak to a group with ease. While I don't seek to be in the spotlight, it would be cool to be comfortable in it at least.
ReplyDeleteI also think it is super handy to be able to "free-style" on a given topic in front of an audience. It certainly demonstrates an ease with the topic at hand and the situation.
It sounds like once you polish some of your prep skill you will be a bang up speaker! Best of luck to you!