There are many ways to boost one’s confidence with public speaking besides standing up and speaking in front of an audience. There are more subtle methods that can be adopted and the one I chos was to volunteer as a trustee for a charity. This will hopefully reap many benefits for Headway, my chosen charity which cares for adults who have suffered brain injury and attend a day unit in Mill Road, Cambridge to help with their rehabilitation. This is a complete departure from my normal work, which tends to be solitary as it is based from home with a telephone and desktop. Hopefully, it will enable me to develop new communicative and decision making skills with my fellow trustees. Although I will be speaking in a less intimidating setting, sitting around a table with half a dozen other trustees, this will present other challenges as I am new to this and they have knowledge and experience which I do not possess.

I offered my services to help with their Press and PR work after learning that they needed new trustees, including the need for someone with these skills, on the website of a networking group I belong to. I was invited last night to attend and observe before making my final decision. Much of the decision making involves confidential business which I cannot disclose here, but I think I will find it interesting and develop many new skills as a result. An employment lawyer called Surbhi who I know from the networking group was also there and spoke up brilliantly on several issues involving staff. I have concerns about something they are planning and will raise this when I meet the Chief Executive, Kate, on Friday for a follow-up chat, as well as at the next meeting. See http://www.headway-cambs.org.uk/html/what_we_do.html

I also read a brilliant article in The Times called: “I have seen the future and it blogs. There is one sure way to bring the internet community to its senses – and and join it.” http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,6-2037617,00.html

And for those of you who want to catch up with other Times bloggers, try http://timesonline.typepad.com/mick_smith/