Seventeen years ago, I became the president of my community association. It was a lively organization with scores of activist members who were busy gentrifying an inner city neighborhood. One of my responsibilities was to deliver a monthly speech and conduct a formal meeting with a loud and raucous crowd.

During the course of my two-year stint, I always spoke from behind the lectern with my hands firmly attached to the sides in a white knuckle grip as I read from my notes. When my term ended, I felt that I might have been a more effective leader if I had some real speaking skills, and if I wasn’t so afraid of being in front of an audience. 

So I joined the Toastmasters and began my training as a public speaker. A year later, I had completed 10 speeches and the basic program, but I was still firmly attached to the lectern and my notes. My mentors encouraged me to work without notes and to move away from the lectern. “At least stand to one side of it!” they cajoled. But I wasn’t about to leave my comfort zone. I was plenty uncomfortable just giving a speech. Besides, no one could see my legs shaking behind the lectern.

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