Uh oh...
I am due to give a speech in less than a couple of weeks' time.
Source
This is how I kind of feel about that.
A few people consider me to be "a natural"...
I am not so sure if I'd agree...
But I appreciate their confidence in me.
If I have something to say - a message to deliver...
Then I will say and deliver it...
Hoping that I don't forget what I was going to say mid-sentence.
...
Source
I do feel old sometimes.
...
And yet I 'do' perform quite well in a pinch - for as long as I'm not trying to 'remember' anything.
And for as long as no mentor is trying to tell me what to talk about under the guise of guidance...
Perhaps I am, indeed, "uncoachable".
Source
...or maybe not? 'shrugs'
...
And even now I recall that I'm supposed to churn out a poster for the pay portal for the Toastmasters speech competition being organized in Malta this October (I shall not be participating, having quite steadfastly maintained that the game design competition ending in mid-November shall remain my priority - but I shall still be assisting them in promotion).
I'll take care of the poster after I get this more personal post posted.
And then I'll figure out what I'll actually be talking about during the speech I'd committed to.
Source
I am so much more comfortable typing than speaking. One can re-sculpt one's words to one's heart's content up until one clicks 'send'.
The same is not true of speech.
Speech is a more direct and 'live' medium.
The words spoken, unless captured within appropriate media, is lost.
Worse. While one is speaking one has to be clear about not only what one is saying but also what one wishes to say. Unless memorized - and I've established here that my ability to memorize is rather limited, what one is left with is a jamming effort not too dissimilar to Jazz, I suppose.
Source
I am not certain about whether its the same for Jazz - but jamming 'words' well is not easy.
Why then, do I subject myself to this process, given all my apparent limitations?
The truth is that I do have messages to deliver, both in the present as well as the future - and unlike in the past where people would feel it perfectly acceptable to pretend that I am not present, this process is giving me the personal power to ensure that I'll be able to make myself both noticed and heard the next time that I have something important to say.
Concerning oneself less with how a message is delivered and focusing on simply delivering the message makes all the difference for me. I feel like I'm on a mission - and the crowd seems a lot less important in its menacing presence.
In this way I have been building not only my communication skills but my confidence and personal leadership too, slowly but surely. I consider myself a stronger person for the process. Happier too.
I think I'm going to be fine.
Source
One thing that I like about this last image? My self-perception shall play a big part as to which 'place' I end up in.
This applies to you too.
...Still... I should ensure that I'm prepared.
Do you have a message that you feel a need to deliver but cannot seem to get through?
Perhaps this will be the nudge that you need to find the kind of supportive environment beneficial to your ability to flourish? After all, Toastmasters is World-wide and you may very well find a club near you.
If you found this post interesting and would like to share this with your friends then a resteem couldn't hurt.
If you 'didn't' like this then feel free to share your views in comments. A civil conversation can go a long way.
Sincerely,
Previous Post: The Pale Houses of Oia - MonoMad