The
Hingham Journal
January
14, 1999
BUSINESS
NOTES
OVERCOMING
THE FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
Hingham
company says it can help
Efrain
Viscarolasaga CORRESPONDENT
The People's
Almanac rates it as the number one fear. It is considered more
terrifying than heights, elevators, or even killer bees, and sooner
or later nearly everyone must face it. It is public speaking,
and if you have ever had to make a speech in front of your peers
or had to make a presentation to the big brass of your company,
you know it all too well. There was a time when the most common
advice one would hear on speaking before a group was to "picture
the audience naked" or at least in their underwear. As intriguing
as that may be, it has become obsolete. Today, there are entire
companies that specialize in helping people overcome their fear
of speaking in public. If you live on the South Shore, there's
a company in Hingham that can help. The Speech Company on Lincoln
Street works with people so they can overcome their fear of public
speaking and perfect their presentation and communication skills.
"Sometimes,
I don't think people can see themselves," says the director of
The Speech Company, Erica Winchester... That's what I do. I enhance
what people already have." Winchester has been in private business
for three years, and has coached and taught the intricacies of
public speaking for close to ten. She has worked with corporate
giants such as Fidelity Investments and Apple Computer, as well
as individuals. From lawyers and ministers, to telemarketers and
broadcasters, Winchester tries to help people from all walks of
life overcome their fear and effectively communicate in the business
world. Her experience has taught her that any successful public
speaking program must start with the individual. The Speech Company
deals with inter-personal communication. The company can get a
client ready for a big speech in front of the brass, or they can
help him feel more comfortable dealing with the boss in a one-on-one
situation. It can also help with the details involved in such
situations. Problems such as accents, humor, and speech writing
are all dealt with on an individual basis. "I have to make it
work for each individual, she says."
Visualization
exercises helps her students relax and concentrate on the business
at hand, rather than office politics or confidence problems. With
a BA in psychology and in communications, business and marketing,
Winchester is well versed in the technical and psychological aspects
of presentation skills, but she credits her extensive training
and experience in theater as being the most influential and practical
part of their resume. Public speaking, she says, is a lot like
acting. "I do all kinds of things that give people a shield of
armor like an actor has," she says. "No matter what the obstacle
is, you can overcome it with hidden communication skills and training.
"I
do all kinds of things that give people a shield of armor like
an actor has...It's the same in public speaking."
The Speech
Company's programs can take anywhere from months to years, depending
on the customer's needs, but Winchester's goal is always the same
----- an individual's success. "I try to give people permanent
tools to work with so that they can be independent public speakers
and communicators. For more information, Winchester can be contacted
at 781-749-7895.
