Yet as an experienced trainer and workshop facilitator who knows others in that same profession, let me tell you that they feel quite different.

Most trainers that I know still get quite nervous when they have to act as a public speaker. Why?

For one thing, the energy of the two events are different.

Public speaking is a lot more one-sided; the speaker talks and the audience listens.The speech is designed either to motivate, inspire or educate.

Workshops are more interactive and so feel more like a co-creation. The facilitators want to assist the participants to achieve some results, such as a self-discovery, learning a process, or writing a plan of action.

I for one find it a lot easier to adjust my workshop material based on the interactions with the participants, than I do amending my speech based on the audience reaction. The first feels a lot more flexible and organic.

Preparing for workshops is second-nature to me now, but not preparing for giving a speech. One resource I’ve enjoyed lately is a blog devoted to women speakers.

I have a feeling I’ll be needing to reconcile myself with the whole public speaking thing soon. Isn’t life full of challenges?