think

If you get butterflies when speaking and don’t want them. Pause.

Let’s say you are about to start speaking and get hit with a thought like ‘I need to make sure I don’t stumble on the tricky word in the second paragraph’. Very likely when you get to the tricky word, you will stumble, especially if you rush at the word, hoping to get past it quickly.

An alternative is to pause and breathe in when you get to the word. Leave your mind blank. Give the word some space. Treat it as if it is an important word. Say it deliberately.

Pausing will help you engage your thinking brain. It helps to make a considered decision. It helps to avoid sarcasm. It’s better than biting your tongue.

Next time you are in a shop alone and the person behind the counter asks ‘Are you being looked after by anyone?’ Pause. Run through several possible responses. Choose the best one. It will only take seconds and get you into the habit of thinking before speaking. The opposite can get you in real trouble.

Contact me if you want some public speaking coaching to take your speaking to the next, comfortable level.

Paddy Spruce
03 9808 8990