Week 8: An introverted extrovert

It may be funny to hear that I have a bit of a phobia for speaking in public - seemingly strange for a teacher but I think for me it really comes down to the audience.  In front of my students I'm completely fine - maybe I figure I will (hopefully) always know more about the subject than they do, probably a silly assumption!

In front of colleagues or peers it's a totally different situation.  If I need to present at say, a staff meeting, I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach for the good part of a day in advance.  If you talk to me I'll probably be a bit vacant - I'm most likely running through my presentation in my head - and it's likely I won't have heard anything you said.  People who know me are shocked to hear this - I must do an okay job of hiding it - but it''s the truth.  I am inexplicably shy by nature, an introverted extrovert my sister would say.

So in the lead up to our group seminar I am pleased by the fact we are able to do a narrated power-point  - a plus-side to being a distance learner!  I am not particularly articulate in speech which might be one of my biggest concerns when speaking in public - nothing worse than a speaker stumbling over their words and losing their train of thought.  I can never find quite the right words to say.  In terms of science, there is a need to be concise and succinct and when you're already lacking confidence in the subject matter, it makes for a very daunting experience.

To calm my nerves for this one I will definitely make sure I am prepared - I'll use prompts but try to keep it as natural as possible.  While I won't go for a colloquial tone, I'll try to use language that feels true to who I am - I think using your own 'voice' is much easier for the audience to listen to as well.

I'll be looking for inspiration from my sister who has been an MC at many,many weddings and just exudes confidence in front of a crowd.  Fake it till you make it she says!  Sounds like a great idea to me.