Speak up: a guide to improving your public speaking skills.

摘要

tudies show that public speaking is among the most common fears, but most of us at one time or another must stand in front of an audience and speak. It could be a presentation to a nursing committee about an equipment issue or to a group of high school students about entering the medical technology field. It might be at a standards committee or at AAMI's Annual Conference.Most of us will never totally overcome our fear of public speaking, but the more you present the more comfortable you will become. And this isn't advice coming from a natural debater or public speaker! I am a biomed, first and foremost, and my first big presentation was to the presidents of our local community hospitals. It was scheduled for one hour and I was the only speaker. I would not recommend this to be your first speech! I was extremely nervous-sweaty palms and sick to my stomach-but somehow I got through it.I realized that I needed more education and experience in public speaking, so I joined a Toastmasters group at my hospital. Most of the members worked in accounting or finance and reported to hospital executives. The group allowed me to give numerous speeches and network with a new group of professionals in the hospital. For more information on Toastmasters, including some tips and techniques, visit www.toastmasters.org. Below are a few other tips that I've picked up along the way.