Surveys reveal that people fear Public Speaking more than death, divorce, illness, airplane rides and just about everything else. But dealing with public speaking can be the springboard to better jobs, teaching Sunday School or delivering a toast at a friend's wedding. So, if you are interested in learning more about speaking, you just might like this article that I wrote about "fear and mistakes" for a Toastmasters Club. Toastmasters serve as a great place for people to practice and develop speaking skills.
FEAR AND MISTAKES
Beginning speakers worry way too much about making mistakes. This is usually because they take themselves too seriously. If you are a beginner, here is a little secret for you: Mistakes are normal and you can cash in on them...big-time.
Nobody has ever been better at failing than the former Tonight Show Host, Johnny Carson. Whenever Carson screwed something up, he simply enjoyed the moment instead of panicking or worrying about what people would think. Ordinarily, he just made a goofy face at the audience, and at his side-kick Ed McMahon, and they would all erupt in laughter together. It was Carson’s self-deprecating demeanor that won him countless millions of fans.
One of the greatest examples of Carson turning lemons into lemonade was the night he came on stage for his monologue without realizing his zipper was down. He was trying to deliver his prepared jokes but McMahon was laughing so hard, and at the wrong moments, Carson finally had to stop right in the middle of his speech to find out what the heck was driving his buddy up the wall.
McMahon could barely get the words out of his mouth, he was laughing so hard. Finally, with rivers of tears running down McMahon’s cheeks, Carson got the message. He just faced the audience, opened his jacket, exposed the problem and paused. The decibel-level of the audience laughter must have set a record.
Carson reached down, and ever so slowly, slowly, slowly, began zipping up his trousers. He must have taken 15 seconds. All along he was making one of those fantastic faces feigning embarrassment, but in actuality he was playing that situation like the master that he was. The cameras scanned the audience and they were out-of-control. The admiration and love on their faces for the talented Carson was so deep and obvious it could not hide behind their hysterical laughter.
Carson never did get to finish his monologue. He didn’t have to. Everybody was already entertained way beyond their expectations. All of that was because Carson knew how to handle a silly mistake!
All of our Toastmaster members make mistakes too. So what? We are just like Mr. Carson because we are surrounded by friends who really don’t care all that much. The key is to just roll with your mistakes and enjoy the moment. Once you can do that, you can actually use your awkward moments as another great learning opportunity.
FEAR AND MISTAKES
Beginning speakers worry way too much about making mistakes. This is usually because they take themselves too seriously. If you are a beginner, here is a little secret for you: Mistakes are normal and you can cash in on them...big-time.
Nobody has ever been better at failing than the former Tonight Show Host, Johnny Carson. Whenever Carson screwed something up, he simply enjoyed the moment instead of panicking or worrying about what people would think. Ordinarily, he just made a goofy face at the audience, and at his side-kick Ed McMahon, and they would all erupt in laughter together. It was Carson’s self-deprecating demeanor that won him countless millions of fans.
One of the greatest examples of Carson turning lemons into lemonade was the night he came on stage for his monologue without realizing his zipper was down. He was trying to deliver his prepared jokes but McMahon was laughing so hard, and at the wrong moments, Carson finally had to stop right in the middle of his speech to find out what the heck was driving his buddy up the wall.
McMahon could barely get the words out of his mouth, he was laughing so hard. Finally, with rivers of tears running down McMahon’s cheeks, Carson got the message. He just faced the audience, opened his jacket, exposed the problem and paused. The decibel-level of the audience laughter must have set a record.
Carson reached down, and ever so slowly, slowly, slowly, began zipping up his trousers. He must have taken 15 seconds. All along he was making one of those fantastic faces feigning embarrassment, but in actuality he was playing that situation like the master that he was. The cameras scanned the audience and they were out-of-control. The admiration and love on their faces for the talented Carson was so deep and obvious it could not hide behind their hysterical laughter.
Carson never did get to finish his monologue. He didn’t have to. Everybody was already entertained way beyond their expectations. All of that was because Carson knew how to handle a silly mistake!
All of our Toastmaster members make mistakes too. So what? We are just like Mr. Carson because we are surrounded by friends who really don’t care all that much. The key is to just roll with your mistakes and enjoy the moment. Once you can do that, you can actually use your awkward moments as another great learning opportunity.
But, just to be safe, check your zipper first.
If you are interested in learning a little more about Toastmasters, here is a link to the website for the club I belong to.
Don't forget to visit my other blog.
No comments:
Post a Comment