“Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Public speaking can be scary as hell.
So why does it seem so easy for certain people? They walk on stage or in front of the group and make it seem like it’s nothing crazy.
For some, it comes easy. For most of us, it doesn’t.
What I’ve learned in the last 15 days of Army BLC is that with practice, you can hone your skills in public speaking.
My first speech in this course didn’t go the greatest. My voice was shaky, I couldn’t think straight, and I worried about other people judging me.
By day 15, I am so much more confident because I’m speaking amongst my peers that I’ve been attending class with every day for the past two weeks.
How did I get so comfortable with speaking in front of a group?
Practice. Participating in daily discussions, rehearsing my presentations, and striving for expertise in the subject at hand.
Anyone can improve on public speaking.
Here’s what you can do to make slight improvements.
- Pick a topic that you’re passionate or knowledgeable about.
- Create a slideshow presentation
- Write a script
- Rehearse the script.
- Present in front of your friends, family, dog, cat, bird, or mirror.
- Rinse and repeat.
The more comfortable we get with presenting, the more confident and empowered we will feel when speaking in public.
I know that if I stop practicing my public speaking skills once this course finishes, I’ll lose all my progress.
Public speaking is something that needs to constantly be worked on, and as with anything, it takes practice.
Follow the to-do list. That way, the next time you give a phenomenal speech. Your next opportunity to showcase your skills could be at the following: a wedding, at work, or in one of your classes.