I’m an introvert. 100%. Each year, my parents heard the same things from parent-teacher conferences, “she doesn’t say much, but when she does, its valuable.” It’s not surprising then that public speaking has never been a key interest of mine.
But the truth is, I’m not actually that bad at it.
My discomfort is more noticeable internally, than externally. And this discomfort is usually around a fear of whether they will understand me. Everything from “am I enunciating” to “do I have the correct speech format” does through my head. When I’m speaking, I’m not actually too concerned with the content of what I’m saying – rather all the other factors. It’s possible that high school English did more harm than good to instill the basics of public speaking.
My key moment on the public speaking front happened when I arrived at my first junior high teaching assignment in Japan. As everyone piled into the gymnasium on the first day, I realized that I didn’t have the appropriate “indoor, gym shoes” and had to go barefoot. I was introduced and stood barefoot and on-stage in front of 800 teachers & students to give a speech on myself, in English. At that moment, I realized that half the room was not going to understand what I was saying. Literally. The first year students had not yet began the mandated English curriculum.
But in that moment, it didn’t matter. I knew that while the words might not mean much, they were actually thrilled to be hearing from someone new: watching my mannerisms, listening to the sounds from my mouth, perhaps hearing a new word, and maybe learning that they understood more English than they thought. And really, when we listen to someone speak don’t we take away more than their words? I’m always hoping for a new little insight, an idea of how to wear certain clothes, a way to structure a presentation – and I’m silently rooting on the presenter.
Some people say, get over your fear by imagining the audience naked – for me, its 800 Japanese kids. But really, just know this, they really don’t want you to fail. That entire audience is internally rooting for you and thanking god that they are not in your shoes (or barefoot).
