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From: Gary J. Rentschler
Date: 03 Oct 2007
Time: 10:33:43 -0500
Remote Name: 165.190.57.240
Many people who stutter feel that stuttering and being an effective communicator are at totally different ends of the spectrum. Speaking fluently is only a small, and nonessential, part of communicating effectively. Fluency is a like the clothes that you wear. Does wearing a suit and tie make you a better painter? ...a better plumber? ... a better lecturer? I think not. One of the BEST (most inspiring, motivational, and enjoyable) speeches I've ever heard was given by a gentlemen who had cerebral palsy. His speech was a little slurred and you needed to listen a little more carefully to understand him. However, his message was DYNAMITE! ...he was also very humorous.. and I'd love to hear him speak again. So, don't let your stuttering get in the way. You may need to learn a way to incorporate it into your message. If you can show your audience that you have adjusted to being a person who stutters, they will forget about your disfluencies and focus on your message. The short answer to your question is that a good orator has a strong, sincere, persuasive message.... whether he or she stutters or not. Best of luck.