Within a Month: I Choose Public Speaking

If I was told I had to pick a skill to learn within a month, and all resources would be provided, the trainers, materials, time and even money, without even thinking twice, I would choose public speaking.

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Why did i choose public speaking¿ That's because I’m quite limited in that area and it’s something I’ve struggled with for as long as I can remember.To be honest, I don’t think I’m a bad communicator,i can hold one on one conversations pretty well, I can express my thoughts clearly when I’m with close friends or family. But the moment the spotlight is on me, the moment I have to speak in front of a group whether it’s five people or fifty something happens. My mind goes blank, my palms get sweaty, my voice becomes shaky and I just want to disappear.

It’s not because I don’t have anything to say, In fact, it’s often the opposite. I have so much I want to say but I struggle to let it out when all eyes are on me, that’s a limitation I’m tired of living with.

Why I Want to Learn It is because public speaking is not just about standing in front of a crowd and talking. It’s about being heard, being understood, and being remembered. I’ve realized that no matter how intelligent or creative you are, if you can't communicate well, especially in public, people might never fully appreciate what you bring to the table.

I’ve missed opportunities because of this, sometimes I had brilliant ideas during group projects or meetings, but I kept quiet. I’ve watched people with less experience speak up confidently and get recognized, while I just nodded silently in agreement.

I’ve also had moments where I was asked to speak, and I did but I walked away feeling like I didn’t give my best. I stumbled on my words, rushed through my thoughts, or felt like I didn’t connect with my audience. And every time, I would promise myself, “Next time, I’ll do better.” But without actually learning the skill or practicing it, that next time never really improved.

If I had one month, with everything I needed, I would dedicate myself to learning how to:
✓ Control my nerves; I want to feel calm and composed, not panicked.
✓ Organize my thoughts; I want to speak with clarity and structure.
✓ Connect with an audience; I want people to feel something,to feel my words when I speak.
✓ Use my voice and body language well; I want to be confident, not stiff or awkward.

It doesn’t mean I want to become a motivational speaker which i could also be or even be on TV but I want to be able to speak up in meetings, present my ideas with confidence, defend my point of view without stuttering, and maybe even host events or lead discussions. I want to stop hiding in the background.

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I’m not expecting to become a professional speaker in just four weeks, but I believe a month is enough to build a strong foundation. With the right training, daily practice, and constructive feedback, I could end with learning techniques to manage anxiety, practice short speeches and improve delivery, watch myself on video and correct my mistakes, learn from great speakers online.The more I practice, the more comfortable I’ll get and comfort breeds confidence.

I know deep down that I have a lot to offer. I’ve had unique experiences, I’ve also learned lessons worth sharing but if I don’t learn how to use my voice properly, most of those things will remain in my head, and that’s not fair, not to me or to those who might benefit from hearing them.

Also, I want to grow into someone who can represent others well. Someone who can stand up and speak, not just for myself, but for a cause, a team, a community and that takes public speaking.

So yes, if I could pick any skill to learn in a month, I would choose public speaking not because it’s easy, but because it’s necessary. I’ve been silent for too long, not because I had nothing to say, but because I didn’t know how to say it.

That needs to change and I believe it can. All I need is one month and a little courage.I once heard that life favours the bold and cheats the timid. IT'S HIGH TIME I START TALKING.

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