Get Rid of Public Speaking Fears, Once and For All
“There are three things to aim at: first, to get into your subject, then to get your subject into yourself, and lastly, to get your subject into the heart of your audience.” – Alexander Gregg When it comes to speaking well, just like with anything, if we can “get into” it we can not only .. read more
What would you do if invited to speak?
Most people cringe, believing nothing good comes from standing in front of an audience. They would say NO to the invitation, for fear’s sake. Some people would simply hesitate before answering, taking in the compliment while, once again, discerning how to say a proper NO. Others have a few reasons for saying YES. Maybe they believe .. read more
Breaking down barriers
Last week I addressed an audience I thought would be out of my range on a topic I have prepared and presented before. I had the sense this particular audience was more informed in the topic than my previous one and had concerns about my content being meaty enough. I worked and worked and re-worked .. read more
Your Speaking Gigs for 2012
In my theatre experience folks often ask me, “Merri, do you prefer directing or performing?” And my usual response is, “whichever I’m doing at the moment”. I have come to love the craft of the performer – planning for an event or show, rehearsing it, gathering the nervous excitement prior to it’s starting and then .. read more
6 Facts about Public Speaking Anxiety
When I was a child I was ultra shy. The middle child in my family, I developed the pattern of letting my older sister do the decision-making and my younger brother handle conversation. That pattern made me comfortable yet did little to help me break away from the communication barriers I created. What this means .. read more
