Using Communication Skills to Enact Change

I have never been the type of person who is comfortable speaking in front of a crowd; I typically pace back and forth and play with my hair while my heart races and my body overheats.  I have always envied those who appear to have a natural ability to raise their hand and answer questions asked in class and who jump at the chance to share their opinion in front of a group of people, often strangers.  I, on the other hand, am the silent observer amongst a crowd who only speaks out when spoken to directly.  The only exception to this is when I am in the presence of a group of children, only then does my anxiety and hesitation subside and my confidence and persistence rise.

Confidence and persistence are two communication skills that I believe are important for a person to embody when seeking policy change.  They must have confidence in their knowledge of the topic they are speaking about and persistence to present this knowledge to any audience and despite any resistance.  In order to improve on these skills myself, I feel that preparation is key.  Just as I research the current theme of my classroom’s curriculum to plan activities for each day, I must research current issues to confidently understand the reasons why they need to change.  And just as I plan a variety of activities to present the information related to each theme, I must deliver the facts surrounding each policy issue in a persistent manner to everyone it impacts.

I hope my own skills of being confident and persistent when speaking in front of a crowd (and not just one of children) continues to grow as I further my career as a professional in the early childhood field.  How confident and persistent are you when communicating with others in a public setting?