Many of us have speaking habits that are like Reggie’s toy. We hold on to them to feel more secure. These unconscious habits get in the way of our executive presence, i.e. our ability to take up space in the room and be heard. There are many varieties of these “security blanket” habits -- filler words like “you know” or “um,” low volume, twisting our posture, hands in pockets, arms crossed to block the audience out, and many others. The best public speaking training doesn’t draw attention to these unconscious defenses. Instead, it emphasizes our natural abilities when we communicate with friends and family. Once we understand that we each have a wonderful, natural style of communicating, we can gradually let go of our security habits.
© 2020 Laura Lewis-Barr all rights reserved
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