I was at the Copenhagen airport the other week on my way to Greece and notice a group of students and teachers. One student was asking something from a teacher but she has a very soft voice, my guess is she is shy, so the teacher said in a loud voice, speak up young lady...
Speak-up... that phrase has stuck into my mind ever since. Come to think of it not a lot of us can confidently speak in public. We all have our inhibitions, some form of shyness especially when it comes in being heard in public. It is indeed frightening to speak in public, specially when you deliver a speech that everyone in the audience will listen to.
I have my fair share of learning how to speak in public confidently. One very good tip I received while growing up was that to speak in public confidently you should have a purpose, a reason to speak. So to be understood you need to speak about something, something your listeners will be interested in. No wonder all those politicians can elicit a lot of emotions when they speak in public.
Come to think of it, public speaking actually brings out some of a person's leadership qualities... To stand out, speak and be heard. Now did anybody watch the inauguration of US president Obama, that's speaking in public to you and me.
