Public Speaking = Public Teaching

"Every time you have to speak, you are auditioning for leadership." -James Humes

I have given a lot of speeches and have found that I enjoy it.  I know that this is not a universally shared emotion related to speeches.  They say that many people fear public speaking more than death.  Others don't see the difference between the two.  


I think that Mr. Humes, in the quote above, may have hit on one of the reasons for this phenomenon.  Many people are uncomfortable putting themselves forward as experts.  They equate making a speech as an audition for expert status or leadership.  This puts a lot of pressure on how well you do on any particular speech.


On the other hand, if you approach a speaking opportunity as a teaching opportunity, you take off some of the pressure.  As a teacher you don't have to be an expert on a subject.  You just have to have something to share.  I doubt that many high school math teachers believe that they are the world's foremost authority on mathematics, yet they have some knowledge, some understanding of the subject.  By sharing what they know and what they understand, teachers help others to know and understand.  Truly great teachers give their students, their audiences, the tools to surpass the teacher's knowledge and understanding!


I also think it helps to look at speaking opportunities as a conversation.  My favorite part of presentations is when I am able to engage the audience in a question and answer session.  That is when you can really connect with the audience and have a true dialogue.  On special occasions, audience members will answer each other's questions, creating a true forum and exchange of ideas.  It is times like these that I feel most like a teacher.  


Giving a good speech does take a lot of work.  A good speaker works on what she or he is going to say, how to say it, what visual aids to use, etc.  But a good speech does not have to be an audition for anything.  It is just a teachable moment.