By Bayo Ogunmupe
The last of the skills essential for your survival in this Fourth Industrial Revolution age is public speaking. This is a skill in high demand nowadays. It is a needful skill for pastors, politicians, lawyers and comperes. The definition of public speaking in my view is learning to speak with ease in front of a crowd. There is so much to public speaking that it's no surprise that it's a skill that makes almost everyone nervous just thinking about it. It is in some ways the epitome of mastery of a language. It also tackles some of the fears most of us harbour like fear of failure; fear of crowds and a host of other fears.
The ancient name for public speaking is oratory and rhetoric is its grammar. Famous among orators of all time were Demosthenes (384 BC-322 BC the Athenian statesman and the greatest of the ancient Greek orators. He was a contemporary of the philosophers Plato and Aristotle. The second example is Marcus Cicero (106 BC- 43BC), Roman lawyer, scholar, the greatest Roman orator and rhetorician. Like rhetoric, the sub skills of public speaking include: pitch, tone, volume, vocabulary and clarity. Others are: crafting introductions, crafting conclusions, storytelling, pace and how you present yourself, body movement and crowd interactions.
As an ancient subject its sub skills are endless. Some of the others are creating visual support, controlling nervousness and many more. My story with rhetoric as a shy introvert started at school when my teachers would ask me to explain how I got answers to questions in class. To get me out of my shyness I had to get further information from my superiors and libraries. This gave me some confidence, which worked pretty well for me. Before doing a presentation in front of the class, I often picture myself in front the pulpit like the vicar of our church.
In my chequered career in journalism, I picked up writing and rhetoric as skills I would practice whenever out of paid employment. Little did I know these skills would be instrumental to my survival in life. How did I learn public speaking? As rhetoric advised, seek opportunities to speak in front of groups. Start with people you are comfortable with, like your friends and family. Talk about subjects you are really passionate about. When you talk about things you love, about people you love, your nervousness disappears.
Recognize that the first time you tell a story, it won't be perfect. Take note of people's non- verbal reactions. Note the interest levels of people on each sentence you utter. Public speaking is about refining your stories. When ready attend toastmasters events. Seize opportunities to speak wherever you are. Seek knowledge of many things for the value of knowledge is that an informed person is forearmed against danger. A long dispute means both parties are wrong. When you show such wisdom in rhetoric you are on the road of becoming a famous orator. The greatest gift you can bestow the world is your transformation into a rhetorical personality.
Walk away from provocative arguments. Walk away from people who deliberately put you down. Walk away from the practice of pleasing people who never see your worth. Walk away from thoughts that undermine your peace. Walk away from judgmental people. Remember that these mistakes and fears do not determine your fate. The more you walk away from things that poison your soul, the healthier your life will be, and the more confident you become. In your imagination, begin to weave the cloth of your oratory and the Divine will provide the thread.
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