GLOSSOPHOBIA

Glossophobia, or the fear of public speaking, is one of the most pervasive phobias we can face in our lifetimes. The ability to speak in public is rare. It is crucial a crucial skill to have for many occupations today. Even speaking to small groups, like a promotion board or interviewing for a new job, can be a daunting task to those who are not accustomed.

When I first started my speaking career, I was in my early teens and had joined the local 4-H club. Periodically we would have to give a demonstration or project talk to the club members. These talks would be either informational in telling members about a subject or a physical demonstration of how something is accomplished.

One year I had a demonstration to show the proper way to make a bird house. I started by telling the audience that different birds preferred different forms of houses and the shape of the house would either attract or repel the target bird. Research would have to be done to make sure the species you are trying to attract would use form of the house after built.

I would align the materials needed to complete the house in front of me and tell what each piece was named and how selecting the building material was as necessary as its shape. As I built the house, I would explain how the engineering of the structure would allow ventilation for proper air flow. In the end I would tell the audience where the most optimal location to place the completed house.

This form of oral communication was good for a young person starting out to get familiar with presenting in front of a crowd of people. We were all friends, you would choose your topic, and you usually had plenty of time to prepare. Being among friends, people could talk to individuals in the crowd as opposed to talking to a sea of unknown faces.

I have the speech impediment of stuttering. It has been an issue for a vast majority of my life, as long as I can clearly remember. There are times when it is very obvious and I can’t speak for two minutes without it stammering and there are times when I can go days or weeks without a noticeable problem. I have identified certain consonants and word patters that queue an episode so I try to stay away from them if possible.

In order to combat the problem in hopes of overcoming it, I joined the debate and forensics teams in high school. I did this thinking that if I would face the issue I could triumph over it. It did affect me greatly in those classes and I did not excel the way others did in my grade. But because of this, I have no real fear of speaking in public as long as I am familiar with the subject matter.

Overcoming this fear is one of the primary goals of the group Toastmasters. Their approach is to improve a person’s speaking ability and leadership skills. In my limited research of this organization it is very open to outsiders and understanding of a person’s hesitance at public speaking. They give immediate feedback as to what you should keep, change, improve upon, or drop entirely.

So, in short, if you have a problem speaking, there are groups out there to help. You only have to take the first step and look for them.