Talker’s block

“I’m not much of a public speaker.”

Really?

Did you all of sudden forget to talk?

You don’t have anything to say?

It’s easy to talk to a friend. It’s easy to talk to a couple of coworkers. Why is public speaking continue to be on the top of people’s list of their fears?

Because we are afraid to be judged. That when we say something and someone hears it, we are now on the hook.

Talking is a skill. Talking in front of the masses is another. One that can be learned with practice.

The fear of public speaking probably won’t go away. So instead, we can learn to embrace that fear. Embrace that not everyone is going to agree with what you said. Embrace that you might mess up.

But remember, the stakes only feel higher when we talk to more people. Is talking in front of 20 people really all that different from 12?