Page 104 - SREENARAYANAGURU OPEN UNIVERSITY

You can use the following techniques: talking about here is the type of shyness that
prevents you from speaking clearly to people
f Present with plenty of evidence and prohibits you from being open and direct
with strong references to people you don’t know. There is a miscon-
f Argue both sides of the matter, ceived notion amongst many shy people that
evidently stating pros and cons of they remain so due to hereditary or other bio-
each logical reasons. Inhibitions are not innate. Our
f Avoid exaggeration and stick to surroundings can change our nature, and we
facts. may respond swiftly when the right situation

demands. As human beings, we have the abil-
(3) Uninformed Audience ity to make ourselves be whatever we wish.
What is important is to develop the will to
This is the most common type of audience change and, more importantly, inculcating the
you will see around. They are not so informed ability to stop labelling yourself as a naturally
about your presentation topic. We can make shy person.
them informed by applying techniques like:
The following steps will enable you to over-
f Start your presentation with ques- come inhibitions while addressing the public
tions so that you can understand while speaking:
the level of knowledge on your
topic. f Always provide your opin-
f Spend some time explaining the ion- Ensure your involvement in
basics of your topic. the program/meeting/discussion
f Make use of simple language however big or small they are.
and avoid acronyms or technical This is to avoid a common mis-
terms. conception among people with
f Relate information to something inhibitions that their opinions are
which people understand and as- not valuable.
sociate. f Don’t brood over your mistakes
(4) Sympathetic Audience and let things go-Did you make
a mistake while sharing wrong
This audience is very positive to you in information to somebody? Did
response as they listen and enjoy their pres- you send an email or a message
ence with you. They are interested in your talk, wrongly? These small mistakes
curious to listen to your topic and develop an happen to everyone. Don’t con-
emotional attachment with you. These people centrate on your mistakes. Instead
are the easiest to convince. take these accidents as experienc-
es. What’s done is done. So learn
3�1�5 Overcoming Inhibitions from it and just keep moving.

Many of us believe that shyness is the nat- f Grab every opportunity to pres-
ural enemy of confidence, and it can ruin our ent something- When a chance
performance. It is true. Interestingly, some comes up before you to present a
people hold the opinion that a little shyness topic or address a gathering, use
in the form of modesty is attractive, but here it. It will turn out to be the perfect
we are not bothered about that. What we are path to enhance your communi-

98 SGOU - FYUGP - SLM - English for Communication