Stuttering. The speech impediment that amplifies public speaking dread tenfold. For years, my stutter was a source of deep shame and anxiety. Public speaking felt like a cruel and unusual punishment, a guaranteed stutter-fest of embarrassment. Then, I started to embrace my stutter. To see it not as a flaw, but as…a part of me.
Instead of trying to hide my stutter, I acknowledged it. I started presentations with, “I have a stutter, so bear with me.” And something amazing happened. Vulnerability became connection. Honesty disarmed judgment. The stutter, the thing I’d always tried to hide, became…relatable. It also made me a more deliberate speaker, more thoughtful in my word choices, and surprisingly, more engaging.
Stuttering making me a better speaker wasn’t about suddenly loving my stutter (still working on that!). It was about realizing that imperfection can be powerful, that vulnerability connects with audiences, and that a stutter doesn’t negate the value of my voice. Stuttering stopped being a source of shame and became, surprisingly, a unique aspect of my speaking style. Embrace your imperfections. They might just make you a better speaker, and a more relatable human being.