I have a long relationship with public speaking. I’ve spoken as a historical interpreter in a living history museum, zoo educator in two different zoos, and in all kinds of educational settings. I’ve been the primary speaker at funeral services where I’ve had the privilege of telling a life story. Most recently, I’ve spoken in churches and organizations about bereavement, grief, and loss. 

Looking at my own track record, one might wonder why I would take a course on speaker branding. At first, I wondered that myself. But you see, within all that public speaking, sometimes in difficult settings, I’ve not really considered promoting my capacity as a speaker. 

The Speaker Brand Academy, offered by speaker and author Aurora Gregory, has really challenged me to clarify and elevate my speaking strategies. She offered an academically rigorous training. I left with clarity, ideas, resources, and more. I’m so grateful! 

And I’m excited to take my speaking strategies to the next level. As a start, I thought I would share here on my blog a bit about my speaker journey. 

After performing a funeral long ago, someone came up to me and said, “Some people would rather die than be a public speaker.” I understand that sentiment. For some, public speaking is not at all what they want to be responsible for. Even with the most compelling story, the last thing some want to do is stand in front of a crowd of any size and speak. 

Yet, there are places where speaking can be exciting or meaningful or even healing, at a funeral for instance. 

Families co-creating a meaningful ceremony with me have taught me a lot about public speaking. For instance, tears while speaking about the biggest losses are held with tender care by those hearing the story. Even as an experienced speaker myself, I find that I can literally feel the grace being given by those in the room. The grace is for me and for anyone from the family who chooses to speak. No matter how choked up someone gets (and believe me, I get choked up sometimes too), those gathered around the bereaved family give grace, exude warmth, and genuinely desire to hear the story about to be told. 

Speaking in any setting can be intimidating. It takes a lot of practice to speak in new places. It also takes a bit of willingness to be uncomfortable. No matter how prepared a speaker is, he or she may make mistakes, misspeak a word, or lose their place in their thoughts or presentation. All are normal aspects of speaking. 

What I’ve been learning lately is that not’s not just the speaking itself that makes a good speaker. 

It’s also the details of preparing your speaker’s story – sharing with others how and what you speak about, for instance. Doing it in ways that connect with those who choose speakers for events or trainings. 

It turns out I have some work to do! So, in the coming months, here in the blog space, I’ll be sharing a bit of a behind-the-scenes look at my speaker journey. If you are a speaker or admire a speaker you’ve heard, I’d love to read your thoughts! Let me know what kinds of things you’d like for me to speak or write about – especially around the themes of loss, grief, and living alongside your grief in new ways. I’m all ears!