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We trusted her implicitly

When we arrived in France, we rented a car and made sure that it had a navigation system in it. It was an adventure, and we eventually called the female voice of our navigation system “our consort.” We became quite close and trusted her implicitly as she knew all the streets, even the little back alleys, and rarely steered us wrong.

Nonetheless, about halfway through the trip, I realized that her public speaking style was starting to wear on me. She had a very cultivated public speaking voice and I was yearning for something a bit more down to earth, casual or even just plain American! We only had one choice in English, and it was a disturbingly articulate and precise female. Her public speaking skills were obvious, and it was clear that she had taken classes on the art of public speaking that included diction, tone, and pacing.

She was polite and tolerant

She was polite and tolerant of most of our little wrong turns or slow moves. However, she fell down on the job when either she or we made a big mistake. Then suddenly, she threw all of her public speaking and self-confidence training right out the window; she completely forgot about the art of public speaking and, when we needed her most, she became silent.

For example, neither her public speaking skills nor her conviction to the art of public speaking was evident when we turned, as directed, “half left” and found ourselves on steps leading to the street below. Seeing no way to back to retrace our steps (no pun intended) we forged on ahead and bumped one step at a time down the “street.” Her silence seemed to indicate that she was upset with us, but, I wonder if instead, she had missed the lesson on public speaking tips for nervousness. I know I could have used some help with my nerves at that time!

And on another occasion, perhaps all of her tips on public speaking were forgotten completely when we did NOT follow her directions and instead turned into a tiny alleyway that got more and more narrow as we followed it. For me, at that time, the importance of public speaking was huge! We really needed someone to speak up! Particularly someone who knew how to get us out of that mess. However, our consort was strangely silent until we reached the end where there was a blessed exit onto another street.

Ultimately, I came away with three tips on public speaking based on the experience with our “consort.” I will share them with you now, and if you ever hear a lovely, British-accented female voice on a navigation system in your rental car in the South of France, please say hello for me.

3 tips on public speaking

1. When you know you’ve lost your audience, think of something to say to get them back on the right track with you. Don’t leave them hanging!
2. There is no need for public speaking anxiety when you have something to say that others want to hear.
3. If you make a mistake, correct yourself and move on.  No one is perfect.

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