Hero of the Stage
This is a story of a small-town girl’s dream.
Since I was in school I always get fascinated by the people who can express themselves in public. I always want to be the “Hero of the stage” but it did not happen. Back then my fear of getting humiliated in public always overpowered my desire to speak in public.
I’ve always been a curious person, eager to try new things. But for many years, I was too scared to do anything alone. I would always wait for my friends or family to join me, even for the smallest things. I was afraid of being left alone, of looking stupid, or of not being good enough.
After losing so many precious years I have understood that only I am the sculpture of my present and future. So why not just let go of my fears? Now, I’m starting to push myself to do things on my own. It’s still scary, but it’s also exhilarating. I’m learning that I’m capable of more than I thought and that I don’t need anyone else to validate me.
A turning point came in my life when I attended the Henderson toastmaster’s Club for public speaking in Singapore. The date was 28th June 2023. I was initially scared of what to expect, but I ended up enjoying the event and realizing that it was not too late to improve my public speaking skills.
Public speaking can be a daunting task and it has several levels, but it’s a skill that can be learned and improved with practice. In this article, I will share some takeaways with levels that I came up with after attending the toastmaster event.
Level 1: Choose a Story and Be Confident- The first step to improving your public speaking skills is to choose a story that you are confident in. This could be a personal story, a story about something you’ve read or seen, or even a fictional story. Once you have chosen your story, practice it several times until you feel comfortable telling it.
Level 2: Own Your Story- The most important thing in public speaking is to own your story. This means being passionate about your topic and believing in what you are saying. If you are passionate about your story, your audience will be too.
Level 3: Use Gestures and Eye Contact- As you practice your story, pay attention to your body language and eye contact. Make sure you are using gestures to emphasize your points and that you are making eye contact with your audience.
Level 4: Maintain a Good Voice Pitch and Tone- Your voice pitch and tone are also important factors in public speaking. Speak clearly and confidently, and avoid mumbling or speaking too softly.
Level 5: Get Feedback and Prioritize- In addition to practicing, it’s also important to get feedback from others. Ask a friend, family member, or colleague to listen to your story and give you feedback. You can also record yourself speaking and listen back to your recording.
Level 6: Dedicate your Calendar - Finally, it’s important to prioritize public speaking in your schedule. If it is not in your calendar then there is a high chance that it will not get done. If you don’t make time to practice, you won’t improve your skills. Schedule time to practice every week, and make sure it’s a time when you can focus and be uninterrupted.
And Lastly some mindful NOTES:
- Your Audience Wants to Cheer for You — Remember, your audience doesn’t want you to fail. They want to see you succeed. So give them a reason to cheer. Greet them, make them laugh, make them think, and make them feel something.
- Start Simple and Steady-Improving your public speaking skills doesn’t have to be rocket science. Just start simple and steady. With time and practice, you’ll see improvement. Also don’t get stuck in one place to create a masterpiece, things will fall into place at the right time.
- Entertaining, Relatable, and Have Moral- This means that your story should be interesting to listen to, it should be something that the audience can connect with, and it should leave the audience with something to talk about or take away from.
I know that I’m not the only one who has felt this way. Many people are afraid to try new things alone. But I want to encourage you to face your fears and step outside of your comfort zone. You might be surprised at what you’re capable of. I hope these tips help you improve your public speaking skills. Just remember to stop dwelling and start practicing, get feedback, and prioritize. And most importantly, have fun!
