social anxiety
Many people are likely to suffer from social anxiety when presented with the opportunity to speak in public. So widespread is the fear of public speaking that scientists believe that this problem can be traced back to evolution. Back then, humans lived with the fear of being attacked by large predators; hence, they had to master the basic survival skill of living as a group. Any form of separation or ostracism would certainly mean death. Fast forward to the 21st century, the idea of standing alone to address a room full of people bears the resemblance of separation. People detest the culture of public speaking because they fear being judged. In other instances, public speaking may elicit the fear of lacking intelligence. Such kind of fear may influence an individual to the extent that they may think they’re not worthy enough to speak. The fear of making a mistake has made a lot of people to shy away from public speaking. However, mistakes are the best form of learning since they help to expose an individual’s weaknesses.
Public speaking is an essential tool of trade in various fields, one of them being the medical profession. Subsequently, those who choose to pursue a career in the medical field must take advantage of the educational curriculum to improve their communication skills. As a premedical student, public speaking skills will enable individuals to put their thoughts into words in front of an audience. In the line of work, healthcare workers are often expected to share their approach regarding patient care. The ability to hone public speaking skills will present an opportunity for healthcare workers to assume a leadership role in an area of medicine. Furthermore, there are instances when physicians might be called upon to provide health education lectures to patients. Others will be required to make presentations to law-makers, which will form part of the health sector’s policy decisions.
A good presentation laced with confidence and competence is a catalyst for engaging and impressing any audience. However, there are crucial elements that should accompany every successful presentation. For starters, an excellent presentation should have a clear objective. Having a clear goal will allow your audience to walk away, impressed and informed. Any person who intends to make a public speech should rehearse it. A well-rehearsed presentation is often delivered in an organized fashion. Besides, rehearsing a presentation provides the speaker with the advantage of projecting confidence, which helps compel the audience. While making a presentation, the onus is on the speaker to include a call-to-action. The speaker must demonstrate what they seek to achieve from the presentation. Assuming that the speaker wants the audience to learn more about the topic of discussion, perhaps they should provide a link to an eBook.
People should always strive to refine their public speaking skills, especially if they intend to advance their careers and create opportunities. Consequently, numerous strategies will enable an individual to become a better speaker. One such approach is the ability to plan appropriately. Any good speaker must learn the art of structuring what they are going to say. For one to be a confident and compelling speaker, they must practice. Often, practicing comes in the form of seeking opportunities to speak publicly. The ability to engage the audience makes it easier for an individual to perfect their public speaking skills. An engaged audience will always be involved with the topic of discussion.