No one is a born speaker

Today an intriguing caption in my office inspired me. It was about elephant and its mind-set. The master ties a rope around the young elephant’s leg to secure it. It attempts to break free, initially, several times, but fails to succeed. The process conditions the elephant to believe that they can never break free. They gradually grow, as magnificent creatures, carrying a strong belief that they can never break free.

I am sure you would have observed this. If the elephant wanted to, it could easily break free from its bond. Nevertheless, it does not attempt. Why? Because these creatures continue to believe, that it is impossible for them to break free. The powerful and gigantic creature has limited its present abilities by the limitations of its past.

Now tell me, like the elephants how many of us go through life holding on to a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? How many of you refuse to attempt something challenging and new because of our so-called mind set?

Although I have had success in many areas, I was always hesitant to write articles, even for an in-house newsletter. I was hesitant because I failed few times before, some years ago, in my attempt. I never tried again, until last month, when one of my friend Sailesh inspired me with his blog. I thought why not try it? I challenged my own belief system, broke free, and started writing. Today, I am able to write better than yesterday, and tomorrow I am sure I will write even better. Had I not made this attempt, I would have lived an ordinary life of a powerful gigantic creature, limiting my present abilities by the limitations of its past.

Like me, I know many who aspire to speak in public and want to make a difference, are hesitant to take action. However, they dread doing it attributing to their previous failure. I tell them, “Friend, believe in yourself and say that you can do it, and you will certainly do it”.

However, while a speaker delivers a powerful speech, flawlessly, I know many who admire the speaker’s ability and think they are born speakers. The fact is we seldom realize that what might seem to be ‘effortless’, is a result of days and even weeks of editing and practice. We can learn to speak effectively.

Speaking is a skill that you can learn. Let me narrate, you can learn how to select points to inform, entertain or persuade. You can learn to structure it in such a way to make the listeners follow you clearly, you can learn to hide nerves and anxiety, you can pretend to exhibit confidence, verve, and happiness. You can learn to modulate your voice, increase or decrease the rate, alter volume, and choose to use the right pitch. In addition, you can learn to exhibit natural gestures, eye contact, and body language, introduce stance and even learn to pause to add power. There is a lot more, but I can tell you one thing, you can learn these skills by practice.

Now, let me tell you for this to happen, you must break free. Break the rope of ‘mind set’ and attempt continually no matter how many times you turn unsuccessful. You must not waste your life, by limiting your present abilities by the limitations of its past. Refuse to live the life of an ordinary elephant. Try, the responsibilty is yours.

I wrote this article for those who aspire to speak, and deserve more from life, and who wishes to break the rope. Grab the speaking opportunity you get. After all no speaker is a born speaker!

If you feel this article has helped you, please tell others. If not, tell me how I can improve further.