Over the last twenty-eight years of coaching and training clients in Public Speaking, I have worked with six-year-olds up to ninety-six-year-olds. Public Speaking is a life long skill that everyone needs. We communicate to each other through our voice, body language and message. The way we speak based on the tonality of our voice, the words we choose and our gestures can attract or distract a listener.
Children up to the age of three are outstanding public speakers. They are confident, with strong voice dynamics and projection with impressive body language. They are fearless. After that age, it becomes a downward spiral losing our creativity and natural speaking ability. We internalize our speaking skills, avoiding public speaking as much as possible. We have to get back to our inner child, the one who was spontaneous, energized, emotional, yet happy. No one wants to listen to a sad, depressed speaker for very long.
Learning the skills and strategies for outstanding public speaking can be learned at any age. Rekindling the joy of our inner child, the passion of our topic together with the wisdom of experiential learning can ignite the spark for professional level speaking.
Many of my past six-year-old students became the valedictorian of their high schools. The ninety-six-year-old speaker became a role model for positive longevity at her retirement home. She just celebrated her 100th birthday and gave a remarkable birthday speech.
Let Public Speaking become one of your lifelong skills.
Written by Bette Elly Klimitz
Leave a Reply