Amazing Communication Skills
Posted on: May 16, 2016
For years, I believed that stuttering could not be used in the same sentence as effective communicator. The two did not equate. Stuttering to communication was like a bull in a china closet – not going to work.
But ever since I joined Toastmasters and practiced public speaking and realized that I could communicate effectively, things changed. I began to believe in myself as a communicator and others did too. I’ve been asked to speak to many groups about my stuttering journey, something I never imagined myself doing when I was younger.
Last week, I had the opportunity to speak to a high school science class about the neurobiology of stuttering.The students were a great audience and asked thoughtful questions. They also provided me with great feedback.
These are just a few of the comments students emailed me the day after the presentation:
“Listening to you speak was amazing. You’re so confident and knowledgeable on the topic and it was truly inspirational.”
“Your ability to conquer your fear of stuttering was inspiring. I wish I had your amazing communication skills.”
“I truly admire the courage it took for you to present to us! You are an inspiration and I hope you know what a great communicator you are!”
It was so gratifying to talk to these kids and have them share that they think someone who stutters can still be a great communicator.
We CAN be great communicators. Remember, there is so much more to effective communication than being fluent. Speaking regularly and getting feedback proves that.
Make Room For The Stuttering 
May 16, 2016 at 10:01 AM
Another encouraging piece, Pamela. Brava, again. I can guarantee you one thing: The more times that speak with minimal stuttering (as I’ve heard you do your audio-interviews), the less you will stutter, for one simple, logical reason: You are rebuilding your Mental Memory Bank with positive memories of you as fluent, replacing those of you stuttering. Eventually, as the former outnumber and then overwhelm the latter, the sounds of stuttering are going to disappear; the fears may well still be there (as they are with me) but the stutters wont be (as mine aren’t). You use breathing techniques to avoid stuttering (and whatever works for you is obviously right for you), but there are quite a few other ways of “dodging” public stutters at critical times, which I found in my decades-long battle with it, which I detail in my Kindle-book, which I GIVE away to any stutterer who asks for it (by emailing info@leeglovett.com). I’m long in the tooth now, and I am not selling anything to anyone; but, before I check out, I just want to help a few stutterers beat it. Anyway, keep up your great work. Lee