Speaking to Win: The Blog
FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING: The World of BLANK….
Most people suffer from a fear of public speaking. This week I received a very moving letter from a gentleman who is the President of an organization. His subject line was “The World of BLANK….”
I was so moved by his letter, I am posting both his letter (removing his personal information) and my reply in the hope that our exchange will help others who are suffering in silence over their tremendous fear of public speaking.
Mary Anne,
My need is small and probably not worth your attention, BUT I am writing anyway. I worked in the information industry for many years and had gotten good enough at my craft that I was being called upon to give presentations and education of my fellow workers. I didn’t sleep for days before having to get in front of a group and I can not tell you the number of times I froze and had to leave the stage, if I stayed I looked like the biggest idiot. Besides working 60, 70, 80 hours a week and in many cases under extreme pressure to perform at my work, to correct major system failures and bring a company back to life. With CEOs standing behind me asking WHEN, HOW MUCH LONGER, I worked my self sick. Ulcerative colitis took me in the year 2000 I had an Ileostomy performed that was fallowed by several other medical conditions, finally after 2 years of support by my employer we agreed it was time to retire medically at age 46 not a good age to HAVE to retire at.
I have recently become involved with a support group The X Chapter Inc. and they have asked me to take on the position of President to try and help them revitalize the organization. After several years of providing support to X in the State of Arizona they lost there Guiding light X as he passed after several years fighting cancer. The organization has suffered since he has passed, from having attendance of 60 to 75 people at regular monthly meetings, and having lists of volunteers to help with projects. To today we are excited to get 8 or 10 people in a meeting and there are 4 to 5 of us that provide most of the work required to just keeping the organization running to help those we can.
I am doing what I can, with out having to get up and speak, BUT and there are potentially a lot of areas and organizations we could interface with, first to inform them that a support group is here and available to help them and second to attract them as potential members. BUT my speaking skills are non-existent, I get in a group known or unknown people of 4 or more and I freeze I visit the world of the BLANK and I look and sound like an idiot, I know I could help if I could just get over this brain drain problem.
Do you think it is possible for a person who has no speaking skills at all and never has, to become a public speaker at least good enough to get in front of a group of people and tell let them know how much they need us and how much we need them.
It appears that the world is running short of real dynamic leaders that not only get up and speak but can also LEAD, it appears that many not-for-profit organization are suffering due of the lack of leadership.
It is not just us but many other local chapter are suffering and our international organization X International X Association) is suffering. The U.S. organization X (X Association of America) is feeling the pressure and doing what it can.
Thank You
President X Chapter Inc.
The following is what I replied to President X:
Dear President X,
First I want to thank you for writing me. You have been through a lot and it appears a new beginning has come your way as President of the X Chapter. Revitalizing anything, especially oneself, can be a daunting task. But having overcome cancer five times in five years and after a near fatal cycling accident, I can tell you from personal experience that ANYthing is possible!
And yes I believe that ANY person can become better at getting up in front of people to speak. It all depends on your passion and determination to be heard. You can become a NEW Guiding Light for your group and pick up where (Your previous President X) left off. It may even suit you more than the 80 hours a work week and CEO’s not understanding even what you are doing let alone saying thank you!
So yes even though your speaking skills you say are “non existent”….well I beg to differ. Any man who can write a letter like you just did to me is full of passion and the will to make the world a better place right where he has suddenly been planted. And I have turned around many people who have lived in the World of BLANK for many years, some their entire lives. So if they can find their way out of the dark and now be speaking in front of people and actually having FUN doing it, well then, so can you.
You are far from hopeless. And your organization sure sounds like it need you and the passion you have inside. “You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. You may have to work for it however.” is a quote that fits here. You are a leader and yes the world needs you too. There is only a mist of understanding some key things about public speaking that I am absolutely sure you could master that are at this moment standing in your way, like a mist at the bottom of a valley. If you could climb up the mountain just a little bit and see from the other side where I am, you would have a magnificent view! Trust me on that. I’ve seen much worse than what you describe here. And those people are no longer suffering. Isn’t it time for you to find your True Voice and learn how to use it?
And if you would like my help, I would be honored to be of service to both you and your organization.
Warm regards,
Mary Anne
Mary Anne Dorward
CEO of My Real Voice
CEO of My Real Voice
Do you believe, yes or no, from what you have read that President X can overcome his fears of speaking?
Do you have your own experiences to share from “The World of Blank….?” in your own life?
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