I walked up to the stage to give my talk on why the gathered assembly of hundreds of students should vote for me as their “school captain.” I was in grade 9. I had written out a 3-page speech and memorised it. It was a close election, and I knew the speech could tilt the election in my favour. I started off well – and then I froze. My mind went blank. I forgot what I had to say. At that moment, the election was lost.
That summer, I decided to learn how to speak in public. I enrolled for a course at the “Indo American Society.” I was by far the youngest in the class of 15. Each of us had to speak in each session. The first few sessions, I stumbled. A very helpful instructor and a friendly audience helped me get better. I learnt how to stand and speak in front of others. When the final session came, I spoke on “Circles” – and I was awarded the “Best Speaker.” I still remember holding that trophy. It was like I had climbed a mountain. The course changed me; it gave me confidence to speak in public. And never again have I faltered.
An upgrade to my abilities came in 2006 when I was to present my idea for a $100 computer at PC Forum in their annual conference which was held that year near San Diego. I had a 2-minute speaking slot. The organisers had brought in a coach (Jezra Kaye) to help each of the presenters prepare. I thought I was a good speaker and didn’t need any help. I was wrong. In the couple hours that Jezra spent with me, she transformed my delivery. I realised then that it was not just the content that mattered but also how it was spoken. Which words to emphasise, the voice modulation, the pauses – all of these have to come together to create a memorable oration. I will forever be grateful to Jezra for that session.
Over the years, I have spoken many times in public – besides the 1:1 interviews, presentations to small groups, and panels at various events. The one thing I do is to prepare and practice. To quote Churchill: “If you want me to speak for two minutes, it will take me three weeks of preparation. If you want me to speak for thirty minutes, it will take me a week to prepare. If you want me to speak for an hour, I am ready now.” I have read from written speeches, I have used outlines, and I have used Powerpoint slides. They are all useful props. What matters most is the content and the delivery – the passion and emotion that one can bring into the words. Public Speaking is about persuasion and changing minds; the best teachers are politicians.
Public speaking is something we must all invest time in learning. It is not just about standing up and letting the words flow; there is much more to it. It is a skill that can take one much further in life.
