Young professionals: Overcoming stage fright

We may possess the best qualifications but if we cannot communicate effectively, we can fail to achieve the best we can. Some people suffer from stage fight while others are quite comfortable in front of a large public. This week, some young professionals tell us their experiences as a speaker and share their advice on how to communicate without fear.

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"10441","attributes":{"class":"media-image wp-image-18839 alignright","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"216","height":"206","alt":"young-pro-tasweena"}}]]Tasweena Girdhari: “Fear can paralyse us completely”

26-year old physiotherapist, Tasweena, has been taking part in debate competitions since college days. On various occasions, she hosted functions as master of ceremony. She believes that fear can paralyse us completely from taking actions. “Without fear, anyone can work or deliver efficiently. Be it at a job interview or at work or during a speech, we need to hold back our fears to perform optimally,” she avers. She still remembers how when she was at college, along with a group of friends, she had to organise a play based on a book they were studying French Literature8. However, during the play, she freaked out and forgot her lines. She had to improvise. Though she managed, it was not the best performance. Tasweena earlier used to be very scared and was unable to speak in front an audience. With good preparation and confidence, she overcame that fear. “It was my worst nightmare. JCI helped me face my fears by giving me opportunities through training. The key is to be well prepared by planning. On D-day, I relax and do some rehearsal. I make sure not to be stressed. I crack some jokes with friends to lighten up the atmosphere,” she shares. She maintains that in today’s competitive world, it is vital for young professionals to master communication skills to stand out from others. “Mastering an art requires skills and a skill is only developed through practice. It is the same with communication. We are not always happy about giving a presentation. We tend to be anxious and spend sleepless nights beforehand. But, trust me, with time and practice, you will enjoy every moment of it,” she advices.

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"10442","attributes":{"class":"media-image wp-image-18840 alignleft","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"240","height":"280","alt":"young-pro-kris"}}]]Kris Appadoo:“To be equipped with effective communication skills”

Kris Appadoo is working as manager and trainer at Novate Services Ltd. For him, people communicate to express their ideas, opinions, feelings and emotions. “To be able to express all these without fear is very crucial because fear is a negative emotion and is a barrier to effective communication. You should overcome fear through appropriate techniques and therapy if you want to communicate successfully in any sphere of life: personal, social and professional,” he says.  Today, Kris can easily speak in front of a large audience but this was not the case when he was at university. “For my first public speech, I was asked to talk about my home country in front of hundreds of students at London Southbank University,” he narrates.  In order to give a good speech, he tries to master the subject matter of his speech or presentation and practice as much as possible until he is confident about it. “I would advise everyone to fully equip themselves with effective communication skills. This will boost their self-esteem and self-confidence. By expressing themselves clearly, they will be able to perform effectively in their profession,” he advices.

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"10443","attributes":{"class":"media-image size-medium wp-image-18841 alignright","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"269","height":"300","alt":"young-pro-ashish"}}]]Ashish Padaruth: “It is essential to be able to connect”

Senior Business Analyst at Orange Business Services, Ashish Padaruth, started giving speeches during weddings and birthday events. His speeches were well appreciated and this boosted his confidence. “Communication is the key to any successful endeavour. One should be able to communicate clearly without fear to avoid any misunderstandings. For a relationship to be long lasting, good communication is vital. Fear is a natural feeling and we can all experience it. If one communicates with fear, the message can never come across clearly. It is important to face one’s fear until it naturally disappears,” he explains. Winner of various competitions such as Public Speaking Championship and debate competitions, Ashish still remembers the day when he went totally blank during a debate. But with a good preparation and confidence he has overcome his fear. “Before any public speech or presentation, I usually sit down and carry out a brainstorming session and also discuss ideas with people, especially with my dad. It helps me in many ways such as having more ideas and structuring my speech. To put me in a proper frame of mind before any speech, I normally recall one happy moment of my life and relive it mentally,” he reveals. He advises young professionals to observe and listen to well-known local or international orators, for example John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela. “When it comes to public speaking, it is essential to be able to connect with the audience. Your speech should be short, interesting and relevant enough to capture the attention of the audience. So go for it, and grab any opportunity to do a speech in public,” he adds.

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"10444","attributes":{"class":"media-image size-medium wp-image-18842 alignleft","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"230","height":"300","alt":"young-pro-neelam"}}]]Neelam Ramsorrun: “Communication is key to success”

Neelam Ramsorrun works in the private banking field and is a vivid speaker. She believes that if someone shies away at all occasions to speak in public, it can cause him/her to miss out on many opportunities. “The fear of public speaking may even lead people to choose a career that does not call for public speaking, rather than one they want. This type fear may prevent us from even trying to connect with others in speech or writing,” she says. If today she is a confident speaker, it is simply because she has strived hard to overcome her fear. “I have suffered from glossophobia for a long time and some of my university presentations would go by in a daze where I would just rush through my speech, not look at the audience or even skip portions of it,” she confides. Before any presentation, she makes sure she knows the subject she has to cover. “It is important to choose a subject you are well-versed in. Toastmasters Club gives me the opportunity to practice regularly and I go one step further by recording myself so I can correct my body gestures and speech pace. Lastly, I relax and perform a breathing exercise before I begin,” she highlights. She adds: “Communication is key to your success in relationships, in the workplace and across your lifetime. If you already have the capabilities to communicate and lead, then build on it. Else, invest in developing them. Communication skills are one of the top five qualities that employers seek.” For the time being, on a regular basis, the young lady competes internally at Plateau Toastmasters Club. She is mastering her public speaking skills in hopes of participating at Toastmasters International Convention soon.