Lubrication Sip in Oratory!

Greetings Steemians!
I hope we all are having a great weekend. Today, I want to share with you a very simple but powerful lesson I learned when I started my speaking career.

When I was just starting my career, I sought an opportunity to speak to some students sometime later, but I was surprised when the Discipline Master (DM) of this secondary school told me, "Since today is still the first day of reopening for the second term, the students aren't doing much in school. I think it wouldn't be okay if they went home today without anything. So, I'll arrange a hall and get them ready for you to talk to them." He proceeded to prepare the students before I could even object.

I wasn't fully prepared to speak that day, but refusing wouldn't have been a good look. So, I accepted the challenge and went to the hall to speak to about 250-300 students. I ended up talking for about 3 hours. In the middle of my speech, my mouth became so dry that articulation was a problem. However, I managed to give a good presentation. Most importantly, I learned a valuable lesson about the importance of taking a water bottle on stage.

This is especially true for beginners. You may find that just a few minutes into your speech, your mouth, throat, and lips become so dry that articulation, pronunciation, and enunciation become difficult. When your vocal cords are dry, they become irritated and cannot vibrate properly to produce sound. Dry mouth muscles and throat also hinder proper function.

Therefore, even seasoned speakers should always bring a water bottle on stage. Staying hydrated keeps your vocal cords, mouth, and throat lubricated for optimal function. Water is also important as an energy source throughout your presentation, as public speaking can be demanding.

Cheers ✌️