“You are really good when it comes to writing but your public speaking skill needs to match up,”- same message from two of my managers in a row at some point in my career. Being honest, I could not agree less with them.
I have always been a person who prefers behind the scenes and if I have to be on the front scene, then it’s not on me for that to happen. I am a person who will be okay if my manager speaks about me on my behalf rather than I do it for myself. At the end of the day, let my work speak for me is the mantra.
But, over time, I realised that is not going to work for me and my managers were literally, ‘shouting’. For a start, one recommended I join ToastMasters. They were very supportive in the sense that they were willing to be attending sessions with me considering they had also been vulnerable with the fact that they were a work in progress themselves. Secondly, I saw a career coach as I was very intentional in improving my public speaking skills. The encouraging bit of the process was the fact that, everyone who was encouraging me, they had a vulnerable story as well and that gave me hope. At the end of the day, what would help me is practice!
So, sometime in 2022, I went for my Masters summer school in Germany. To set the context, we had people from different parts of the world and closer home, from different parts of the continent particularly, a sweet mix of Anglophone and Francophone speakers. In that summer, I took the opportunity to practise. And, that was the beginning of me building my confidence. First, the environment was out of my comfort zone, the audience was very diverse and I received really positive feedback even when they did not know what I was upto.
In addition, I started reading books on communciation and public speaking, did a Masterclass by #georgiehosts by Georgie Ndirangu and, listening to some global notable speakers and particularly Africans, closer home for me to reasonate. One of these speakers is Vusi Thembekwayo- I mean Vusi makes speaking to seem effortless and natural. He is one speaker I could listen for hours. Hope to meet him some day. And lastly, practise! practise! practise!
Realising that everyone who is a good speaker at some point was not a good speaker has kept me hopeful. Where am I now? I have had the opportunity to not only speak but to also be a moderator. Ofcourse, I am a student in progress who is intentional with getting better at it.
What is my message? What is that skill in you that everyone points that you should sharpen? Have you become discouraged and think you will never be good at it? I hope my public speaking journey inspires you to rise and go for it. Never give up. Keep trying and you will definitely keep getting better! I mean, embrace your own beautiful journey of becoming.
Cheers!
With Love, Mwendwa.
This is lovely and inspiring.