The art of public speaking with Betka Šuhel Mikolič

On Thursday, December 14, 2023, the SEB LU hosted Betka Šuhel Mikolič, a lecturer, television and radio presenter and journalist. In her more than thirty-five-year career, she worked on seven Slovenian radio stations, in the sports, entertainment and youth programs of Radio-Television of Slovenia and on POP TV. By knowing the skills of public speaking, researching potentials, and following character traits, she honed many acquaintances of Slovenian public figures into excellent rhetoric.

The workshop was practical for students, as the main topic was a problem that all students face – public speaking. “I have been dealing with the fear of public speaking ever since I can remember. I hope I get advice on how to deal with this at the workshop,” were the words of one of the participants, with whom many others could identify.

Šuhel Mikolič started the workshop with a story about the importance of first impressions: “In the first sixty seconds, we form an impression of a person that we cannot correct.” Non-verbal communication plays a big role in this. But to ensure listeners’ attention from the beginning, we start the speech with an open question, a joke or an anecdote.

The last part of the workshop was about stage fright – why we have it, how it works and how to deal with it. “Stage Fright is necessary and is the driving force behind our development,” says Šuhel Mikolič.

Here, she shared two tips:

• Before the start of the performance, look at the audience and choose three positive pillars that represent the points to look at during the performance.

• Another tip is to learn the first seven sentences of the presentation and say them as confidently as possible, thus creating a good impression. The jitters also usually start to subside after the first seven sentences.

At the end, one of the participants asked if, after so many years of experience, Šuhec Mikolič still faces stage fright. The lecturer replied: “Absolutely, I did today too.” Stage fright accompanies even the best speakers, but it doesn’t stop them from giving great speeches.

Klara Lebeničnik, Efnews

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