When I first entered corporate America, many years ago. I worked in a career that I thought would allow me to interact with a diverse group of people. Little did I know that part of my job responsibilities also included giving presentations to large groups. The only experience I had in public speaking was a speech class I took at a community college in which I barely received a B.
I recall the early days when my supervisor forced me to speak in front of a crowd. My voice cracked, I was covered in sweat and my heart raced a million miles a minute. Years later, I "mastered" the art of public speaking. My presentations were so perfected that I would receive countless compliments on how well it went. I even had people come up to me afterward asking if I could coach them on becoming a better speaker. A couple years ago, I attended a success conference. During the break, I told the woman hosting the conference a story about how I was introduced to her organization. Unbeknownst to me, she randomly invited me up on the stage to share my story with her audience as an illustration of her effective marketing strategies. I got up, grabbed the mic off the stand, said a few words, and sat down. Later during the break, a few people came up and praised me about my stage presence and speaking voice. This happened multiple times over the two-day conference.
When I tell people that I used to be afraid to talk in front of an audience, they're shocked! They immediately ask me what I did to become the confident speaker I am today. The answer is simple and can be summed up with one word.
That one word is preparation.
