Theocratic Aid To Kingdom Publishers

Lesson 10

HOW TO OVERCOME AUDIENCE FEAR

Moses apparently was gripped by audience fear when told to go and speak before the Egyptian rulers and the Israelites. Jeremiah became fearful when faced with a public-speaking career. Faith in Jehovah to help and faith-proving works (experience) enabled both Moses and Jeremiah to overcome this speaking hazard. A public preaching of the gospel is, if anything, more imperative today. Jehovah will surely help and train his ministers. He did in centuries past; he will today. Show faith by experience-giving works, by public speaking.

Knowledge of the causes and remedies of audience fear will be a long step toward removing that obstacle.

Some causes are physical. Moses' trouble seemed to be of this nature, he having an impediment of speech. (Ex. 4:10-12) Many speech defects, such as stuttering, stammering, lisping, etc., can be overcome by conscious and studied effort. One so afflicted should force himself to speak very deliberately, with exaggerated slowness. Much practice rending aloud, where the mind is freed of the task of remembering material and can concentrate on operating the tongue, will prove helpful. Proper breathing is an impor-

tant factor, serving to relax and calm the speaker. More often than not these defects are mental and nervous disorders rather than physical deformity, but the physical fact that they exist is an added cause of audience fear. That is why they are classed as physical causes. Many stutterers and stammerers have no difficulty in reading aloud, proving that the source of trouble when they are speaking is nervousness and self-consciousness. Nevertheless, reading aloud will aid in developing confidence. Stutterers should prolong the vowel sounds. Conscious effort will bring rewards to those having speech defects.

Far more common are mental causes of audience fear. Such was the source of Jeremiah's difficulty. (Jer. 1: 4-10) Among mental causes is initial nervousness. Such nervousness before and at the beginning of a speech is quite normal. It is no ill omen; it should not discourage nor frighten. It is a good sign that one is alert to the occasion, not indifferent; that he is ready to go with all faculties keyed up for a full effort. It is somewhat like the prancing race horse as it awaits the starting signal. After that all nerve energy is consumed in the work at hand, and none left for nervousness. Experience will make this concentration possible, but never will it erase initial nervousness. It is natural; do not mind it. Deliver the introduction in a slow, measured tempo, and before the introductory words are past initial nervousness will have passed.

Lack of confidence in one's ability or talent as a speaker is one reason for audience fear. The remedy for the Theocratic minister is to be constantly mindful of the promises and unlimited power of the Almighty to help and to strengthen him to carry out the preaching commission. Believe in His assurance, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor. 12:9) Fully trusting in this divine promise, the minister can say with confidence heretofore lacking: "I can do all things [including public speaking] through Christ which strengtheneth me." —Phil. 4:13.

An audience is feared if one takes the erroneous view that it is composed of mental giants. Whoever one's listeners may be, as a group they are people of ordinary intelligence; their standard of good public speaking is not too high or unattainable for you. And if there are persons of great worldly learning in the audience, never mind. All their old-world wisdom is foolishness in the sight of God. Keep in mind that it is written, "Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies."  — Ps. 119: 98.

One of the worst stumbling blocks for a speaker is insufficient preparation. Preparation of subject matter will make one confident that he has something of importance that the audience needs to know and in which they will be interested. Preparation for delivery will give confidence in one's ability to put the vital subject across. Be filled to overflowing with the subject, interested in it, absorbed in it, enthusiastic about it; then get up and pour it out from your heart into the ears of the audience. One will have no room for thoughts of self. Something important is to be said. Say it.

Self-consciousness is a speaker's enemy. It produces discomfort for both the speaker and his audience. The self-conscious speaker ceases to be himself. His undue concern about what his hearers are thinking of him paralyzes his mental faculties, and the result is distress and confusion. Relax, because one can do nothing well if tense. Just ask swimmers, skaters, dancers, musicians, actors, and other artists, and they will testify to this. Be completely absorbed in the subject matter; forget about self. Be entirely unconcerned about what the audience may be thinking; they will think of what the speaker is thinking. If he is thinking of self, they will know it. If he is thinking on the argument he is presenting, so will they.

Every beginner suffering from "stage fright" thinks that his is a "special and incurable case". He has company, plenty of it. He must fight and conquer this fear by the

boldness of his testimony, or else his fear will conquer him and cause him to stumble and fall over his own words and become entangled in his own thoughts. When audience fear gets one in its grip during a talk, release bodily nervous tension by action. Loosen its stiffening grip by taking a step or two, by a gesture of the hand, by a turning of the head, and by other bodily movement. Change of pace in delivery will help. The speaker should slow down, "change gears," lower pitch, breathe more deeply, pause some, until he has regained composure and is ready to "step on the gas" again. From this moment the scared novice will begin to act like a free man.

Keep in mind that Theocratic ministers are not judged by man. Jehovah is the judge of his servants, and he is no unfriendly critic. "He knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." Also, "the fear of man bringeth a snare," but "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom". (Pss. 103:14; 111: 10 ; Prov. 29: 25) So be wise: fear Him, not an audience.