Countering stage fright

KATHMANDU, AUG 29 - Today more than ever, with the world becoming increasingly competitive in all spheres of life, public speaking in front of masses of varying sizes has become, if not a necessary skill, one that certainly guarantees you a foot forward in your professional prospects. Whether to do with academics or business ventures, the ability to voice your thoughts clearly and confidently while engaging your listeners is a marketable quality. But this sort of self-assurance isn’t something everyone is born with, and is a sore spot for many who wilt at the very thought of stepping up on stage. In fact, the fear of public speaking is often said to be the number one fear around the world, beating even the fear of death. It is with the view of facing these fears head on that the Everest Toastmasters Club (ETC), the Nepali branch of an international organisation that aims to impart the skills of public speaking, oral communication and general leadership to those who most need it, was initially conceptualised. ETC has been holding many events over time to that effect, and most recently, organised a screening of the documentary Speak by Paul Galichia and Brian Weidling at the Kumari Hall in Kamalpokhari on August 26. Attended by Toastmasters from around Nepal, figures from the business industry as well as other stakeholders and those simply interested in communication skills, the event showcased the hour-and-a-half long documentary, which revolved around what organisers describe as the “war of the spoken word”.

“The film is based around the concept of public speaking—the fears and the anxieties that it can evoke, even in the sturdiest of people,” said Yogesh Satyal, a member of ETC. “We want to show them that it is possible to overcome these fears, and we thought the film would be a good way of putting the message out there.” Satyal explained that the primary objective of the club is to facilitate personal development through improved communication among people. Before the screening could proceed, ETC had some entertainment in store for the audience. ETC members Sixit Bhatta and Shailie Basnet performed a couple of stand-up comedy routines, while Seema Golchha drew applause with her ventriloquism act. Speak was then shown, and it was certainly worth the wait. Dealing with the poignant stories of six individual contestants taking part in the grand finale of the highly-competitive World Championship of Public Speaking held in Calgary, Canada, the film depicted the tricks and practices which the group used to attempt to counter their stage fright. As unconventional as the subject might have been, the filmmakers have rendered the finalists’ experiences beautifully, and captured well their motivations and steely determination in the face of their fears. An attendee at the screening, Shama Budathoki, also a member of ETC, said that joining the club turned things around for her. “I’m a teacher and I’d always found it difficult to speak up in different situations, but working with ETC has been such a blessing in terms of how it’s enhanced my confidence and overall growth,” she said.
ekantipur

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