Question: What do overcoming the fear of speaking in public and holiday gift-giving have in common?

Answer: We use the same principles to give a speech or to give a gift!

We've just spent a lot of time thinking of the folks on our holiday gift list. We took into consideration their likes and dislikes and the financial limits we all agreed to observe. Then we tried to come up with something they'd appreciate that they didn't have before, that would make them feel we cared about them. And when they smiled and said, "Thanks, I love this, it's just what I need!", we knew really meant it.

This is a great technique for overcoming the fear of speaking in public.

If we break down the elements of our gift-giving technique, we find three simple principles:

The holidays are here and that means holiday parties. Great! We've worked hard all year and we deserve to eat our favorite foods, drink a tad too much and maybe say or do a few things we'll regret next year. Or not. It's really easy to forget that the folks we're celebrating with over the buffet and bar are the ones we'll be back to work with come January 2nd.

One great opportunity arises at this time of year: A chance to make a short speech offering a few well-chosen words of peace on earth, goodwill toward men and women. Business parties are a chance to get to know associates and colleagues on a whole 'nother level. The trick is to say just enough to keep the holiday spirit going but not go on so long that folks start looking longingly at the drink table.

WHAT DO GIFT GIVING & PUBLIC SPEAKING HAVE IN COMMON?

THE TRICK TO GIVING A HOLIDAY PARTY SPEECH

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