2COMMON VOCAL AND COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES

Fear can only be driven out by a strong awareness of the value of life.

—Dorothy L. Sayers

One person I have worked with is a gentleman who is supposed to make public appearances as an aspect of his job. He is deathly afraid of public speaking and always defers the task to someone else, even when he knows the appearance is scheduled to last as little as two minutes. Typically, all that is required on such occasions is to offer a simple “thank you” as he accepts an award on behalf of his boss and organization. For him, the mere thought of sitting near the podium waiting to be introduced makes him feel as though the air is being sucked out of him. For the same reason, he also avoids speaking up in meetings ...

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