These days I don't have too much trouble with public speaking but I did at one point. I wasn't shy but I struggled with confidence.
One of the books I turned to for help was Charles Osgood's Osgood on Speaking: How to think on your feet without falling on your face, where the late broadcasting legend described the power of speaking in front of crowds.
“No matter how serious the subject matter even if you are delivering a eulogy at a funeral never act as if the job were a chore or one that you prefer someone else was doing,” he continued. “Act as if there were no place in the world you would rather be at this moment than up there where you are.
“Speakers sometimes overlook the golden rule, I fear.” Osgood wrote. “They go ahead and give a speech that they would hate to hear. Like them and they'll like you. Help them and they'll help you. Enjoy yourself and they'll enjoy themselves. Be relaxed and they'll be relaxed. Lead, they'll follow. But if you hate it, they'll hate it. If you're uncomfortable, they'll be too. If you're bored they'll go to sleep”
What do you think and how do you feel about public speaking?
Let me know in the comments and support my work at jamesbrowntv.substack.com.
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On that note, I'm James Brown and as always be well
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