When I was a junior high school student 30 years ago,
I, like most teenagers, dreaded public speaking. The butterflies would kick up
in my stomach and I couldn’t wait for the ordeal to be over.
Fortunately, at least from my standpoint at the
time, such activities were rare – we might have made one or two presentations a
school year and you could always lean on your equally-uncomfortable fellow
speakers as we almost always spoke as groups, never singularly.
Luckily, I had Scouting to dramatically change my
world view of public speaking in the closing years of my school life. Being put
into positions of leadership such as senior patrol leader and working at summer
camp as a merit badge counselor made me develop public speaking skills first
out of necessity then out of enjoyment.
Because of that shot in the arm that the Boy Scouts
gave me, I have a critical life and career skill available in my arsenal. The
43-year-old version of myself is not like the 13 year-old Bob Confer: I look
forward to speaking to groups and talking about things I enjoy be it work,
Scouting, nature or public policy (well, I don’t really enjoy public policy but
you get my drift).
Public speaking is a regular part of my life. Not
only do I deliver multiple weekly shift meetings at the plant to dozens of my
coworkers at a time, but looking at my 2017 calendar there were another 24 occasions
this year when I had to speak to groups of more than 10 people at a time. They
could have been tours or speaking engagements, or participating on panels -- I
didn’t even count running board or business meetings.
As I write this, I’m kind of taken aback by how
often I find myself in speaking roles. Maybe I was unaware of how often it
happens because I see it not as one of life’s woes, but rather as one of life’s
duties as a businessman or citizen. It’s a normal part of being.
That’s a way of thinking we need to share with
students today. They, their parents and guidance counselors are always looking
to help them develop demonstrable – and marketable -- skill sets that can be
used to further their academic and, ultimately, work careers.
Public speaking is one of them. As a kid, you don’t
see a payoff in the stress as you learn the art, but as an adult you see the
limitless potential: you could use it at work in the private sector as a
manager, sales person, project leader or newsman; in the public sector you
would find it as an asset as a teacher or town councilperson; in volunteerism
you would see its value in running a little league team, fire department, fundraiser,
or church. You truly never know when you will need it – and you should be
ready.
But, how do we prepare teens for that?
For the most part, schools are lacking in public speaking
training exercises. The frequency of such activities is no different in 2017 than
it was back in 1987. Kids are rarely exposed to it in classrooms and it shows: When
I was taking the occasional evening class at college 12 years ago, I would
cringe when the students would give presentations; they were as painful for the
listeners as the speakers. I can only imagine things being worse now, what with
texting and social media having ruined many a young person’s ability to legitimately
communicate with others.
You know that the young adults who can speak well
did a little more at school (they were in drama club or were in student
government) or they were in an out-of-school organization that gave them
confidence and abilities (Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Future Farmers of America,
4-H). So, that’s my word of advice to parents: The classroom is just one part
of your child’s foundation – get him or her into a program that would
complement and supplement it.
But, what about those for whom it might be too
late?
It’s never too late!
Some adults don’t find their comfort level in
public speaking until well into their 30s, after work and volunteerism forced
it upon them. Most adults never do – no doubt you’ve heard many a time that the
average person fears speaking to the masses more than death.
But, you can overcome those insecurities no matter
your age. If you missed out in high school or college, there’s always
Toastmasters, a wonderful program that fosters communication skills in a warm,
guiding group setting in which speakers help you and you them. There are such
clubs that meet in Lockport and North Tonawanda on a regular basis.
Public speaking should never be feared. If someone
can master it – to be confident, fluid, knowledgeable and engaging in front of
groups – they will set-up themselves and their organizations for success.
From the 20 November 2017 Greater Niagara Newspapers
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