Why I don't like the expression 'public speaking'

And my argument in favour of banning it...

This might surprise you but I would ban the expression ‘public speaking’. It makes something perfectly normal to you – speaking, chatting – sound highly unnatural and worrying. Words have power and I want you to feel that speaking in front of an audience is just another part of the speaking you do every day. We don’t say ‘public dancing’, ‘public playing’ and ‘public singing’ do we?

Can we put ‘public speaking’ in Room 101 and agree to call it just ‘speaking’ from now on? Or even ‘chatting’?

Let’s not put public speaking on a pedestal, or worse behind a lectern: I’d ban those too; they are where good speeches go to die.

You already know how to speak confidently.

There are moments in your life, with the people you trust, where you speak with absolute ease and confidence. And it’s my belief that if you can find your voice in those moments, you can find it in any situation.

The first step is to understand how the instrument of your voice works. When you understand how your voice works you discover that, in the words of the director and playwright Peter Brook, there are ‘drawers in the self’ filled with everything you need to speak with confidence.

This power within was symbolised in a TEDx talk I did by a large chest of drawers shaped like a man’s torso, called Big Ted.

When you understand how your voice works you will realise that:

● Speaking can be simple.

● You don’t have to rush as a speaker because you know how to centre your breath with the diaphragm.

● You no longer have people telling you to speak up because you can project from your deep core muscles.

● When you trip over your words you know how to find clarity in the articulators.

Curious to know more - download my free Gravitas mini course now to begin your speaker journey.

Let me know how you get on!

Caroline x