The Truth about Public Speaking

So you read last edition’s article on overcoming speaking anxiety, but still aren't sure you want be a public speaker. You can't imagine yourself getting up in front a large group and sharing with them your experiences with VHL.

What you may not realize, however, is that there is more to public speaking than standing up in front of a group and putting on a lecture. As a matter of fact, in the words of Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE, one of the top professional speakers in the world, outside your home, all speaking is public speaking.

This is an important point because most of the time our opportunity to make an impact, or at least a strong first impression, doesn't come on stage in front of hundreds, but rather one on one.

While there are many variables involved, I'd like to narrow the process down to the least you need to know.

What do you say when someone ask you "the" question, "What is VHL?" Once you've been asked, it's too late to prepare your answer. That's why I believe it's vitally important that you have a script already rehearsed that you immediately follow when asked. That's right a script. Like an actor. Or politician.

Let's look at some possible answers. I'm not suggesting that these are the only ways to answer the following questions. Rather, they are ideas to stimulate your own answers. The key thing is to be prepared so you're not caught off guard, and can only reply with "Well, you know… Ah, Uhm, it’s like, well…"

Your response - "VHL is short for von Hippel-Lindau syndrome. It's an underdiagnosed, hereditary condition which causes a variety of knot-like tumors to grow in various organs of the body. It was named after the two European doctors who first described it about a hundred years ago. Dr. von Hippel first discovered tumors in the eyes (specifically the retina), and later Dr. Lindau discovered these same people frequently also had tumor growth in other vital areas such as the Central Nervous System, the brain, the kidneys, pancreas, and the adrenal glands. The kidney and pancreas tumors can be malignant. Does that answer your question?"

Your response - "The VHL Family Alliance is a non-profit group dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for those of those individuals and families affected by von Hippel-Lindau disease, or VHL for short. VHL is an underdiagnosed, hereditary condition which causes a variety of knot-like tumors to grow in various organs of the body. It was named after the two European doctors who first described it about a hundred years ago. Dr. von Hippel first discovered tumors in the eyes (specifically the retina), and later Dr. Lindau discovered these same people frequently also had tumor growth in other vital areas such as the Central Nervous System, the brain, the kidneys, pancreas, and the adrenal glands. The kidney and pancreas tumors can be malignant. Does that answer your question?"

Your response - "Ha, Ha! That's a very common response. <smile> Now you know why we use the initials! Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, or VHL for short, is an underdiagnosed, hereditary condition which causes a variety of knot-like tumors to grow in various organs of the body. It was named after the two European doctors who first described it about a hundred years ago. Dr. von Hippel first discovered tumors in the eyes (specifically the retina), and later Dr. Lindau discovered these same people frequently also had tumor growth in other vital areas such as the Central Nervous System, the brain, the kidneys, pancreas, and the adrenal glands. The kidney and pancreas tumors can be malignant. Does that answer your question?"

So, there you have it. A few ideas to get you thinking. Word it your own way if you'd like, but please remember this. In the words of the television show Candid Camera, "When you least expect it, someone may come up to you and say "Tell me about VHL."

Jay Platt is Director of Public Education of the VHL Family Alliance. He can be reached at Jay@jayplatt.com. Jay was interviewed on CNN television Sunday, June 3, in connection with National Cancer Survivors Day. He is the author of A Time to Walk (see page 15).

As printed in the VHL Family Forum  9:2, June 2001.  For permission to reprint, please contact VHL Family Alliance, editor@vhl.org. Further information is available from the VHL Family Alliance, info@vhl.org.