Last week, Miss Gordon, our Head of Public Speaking, held a morning ‘Captivating Communication’ session for Year 12 called ‘Speaking Out Without Freaking Out.’

With a nod to the increasing importance of online video communication this year, Miss Gordon introduced a number of new elements around feeling more confident using the likes of Zoom and Google Meets. We practised active listening (i.e. how to be proactive when listening to a lecture or talk online via zoom) and discussed ways of making ‘virtual meetings’ more dialogue based and not passive (using the chat function, break out groups etc). Students also practised enhanced facial expressions and playing with tone, pace of voice to effectively communicate on a screen. The group also discussed how to introduce speakers via Zoom/ Teams, plus ways of ‘hooking’ or engaging an audience when you can’t get physically close to them (or see them!).

The session also included games and scenario-based activities such as giving an off the cuff speech. We also delivered an elevator pitch, made up a story on the spot and imagined we were stopped in the street by a BBC reporter wanting our opinions! We discussed what hold us back from answering questions in class or asking a question in a lecture, or introducing a speaker or networking with unfamiliar people. Most helpfully, how looked at how we can re-frame our nerves – all with the aim of building our confidence. 

Symptoms of feeling nervous can be managed by using tactics such as taking a deep breath, holding something cold (your pen), making grand gestures, moving around and being succinct. Although it can feel difficult to ‘get rid of’ anxiety and nerves.  But why try? We looked at how we can manage anxiety, but not get rid of it, re-framing how we feel to viewing those nerves as being helpful. If can manage this, then they can give us energy and adrenalin, which tells us that what we are doing is important – whether it’s making an important point, or suggestion, or helping us grow and progress in our communication skills and self-confidence. Nerves are symptoms – embrace them as it shows we care what we are talking about. Miss Gordon spoke about allowing ourselves to feel nervous and so giving ourselves a sense of agency. 

The key message throughout was ‘practice makes progress, not perfect.’ 

Miss Gordon showed that every one of us has views to share; input to give; ideas to spread. We all have value. But if we allow anxiety to get in the way of that, we miss out, your classmates miss out; society misses out. We lose valuable and diverse voices.