| You've been invited to speak at the weekly meeting | | | | behind the wheel of a vehicle, or standing at the lathe |
| of the local Rotary or Lions Clubs. Or perhaps you are | | | | than there is in addressing an audience. Your reason |
| addressing a group of insurance adjusters, paralegals, | | | | for public speaking is the same as it is at work - to |
| or realtors at their monthly dinner. Should you have a | | | | further your business. And, projecting a professional |
| drink with your meal or partake of some alcohol during | | | | image is not going to happen if you have been drinking. |
| the networking portion of the evening? How bad could | | | | You may want that one drink to fortify you or to |
| it be to have a glass of wine, a beer, or some other | | | | lessen your nervousness but alcohol has the opposite |
| form of libation considering that many of those in | | | | affect. You may feel fortified but that is a false sense |
| attendance are drinking as well? | | | | of security. In truth you have dulled your senses. And, |
| The answer to that question is to ask you if you would | | | | yes, the alcohol may lessen or abolish your |
| drink alcohol at the office during business hours? Aside | | | | nervousness, but being too relaxed is dangerous as |
| from the fact that you are not permitted to imbibe, the | | | | well. |
| real question is how would your performance be | | | | - One of the great benefits of nervousness is that it |
| affected? If you are honest with yourself, you know | | | | heightens your awareness. Alcohol only serves to |
| that alcohol dulls your senses. Trying to negotiate a | | | | diminish it. |
| contract, sell your products, write an article, handle a | | | | Can you afford to lose your edge when addressing an |
| lathe, fly a plane, or arrest a thief while under the | | | | audience? That is the question you must ask yourself. |
| influence would definitely not be a smart idea. How | | | | If your livelihood depends on your ability to speak to an |
| about diagnosing a patient or better yet, performing | | | | audience intelligently and coherently, then you would be |
| surgery? | | | | wise to forgo the drink until after you have finished |
| None of these jobs could be handled well under the | | | | speaking. |
| influence of alcohol. Such being the case, there is no | | | | There is a time and place for alcohol. Prior to delivering |
| difference between working at your desk, sitting | | | | a speech or presentation is not one of them. |