I didn’t fully grasp the depth of my public speaking shortcomings until I stood face-to-face with them. It wasn’t theory—it was exposure. In a bid to confront this gap in my professional life, I visited a local club committed to cultivating communication and leadership skills.
What struck me immediately wasn’t just the structure or curriculum—it was the vulnerability. Members, many of them seasoned professionals, openly confessed to having once dreaded public speaking. They spoke candidly of past failures: missed opportunities, career stagnation, even panic attacks. And yet, through consistent weekly practice and peer support, they had grown—not just as speakers, but as confident, articulate individuals.
The room was a mosaic of experience levels: beginners, mid-career professionals, and long-time members. But all were bound by a shared mission—to become better communicators and more effective leaders. After attending a few open sessions, I signed up. Though I knew I still had a long way to go, the program illuminated a path I hadn’t seen before. The regular feedback, the practice, the mentorship—all offered in a spirit of camaraderie—felt like a lifeline.
According to researchers, glossophobia—fear of public speaking—is one of the most common social phobias worldwide. It affects millions, surpassing even the fear of death, spiders, and heights. While some nervousness is normal, for those with glossophobia, the fear is debilitating. Around 10 percent of sufferers say it interferes with daily life, especially in the workplace.
What I’ve come to realize is that no program, no matter how reputable, can work without genuine effort. Success is directly proportional to one’s commitment.
Consider Darren LaCroix, the 2001 World Champion of Public Speaking. He beat out more than 25,000 contestants across 14 countries. People admire his trophy, but often overlook the thousands of hours he spent preparing. “People get jealous about my trophy,” he once said, “but they overlook the extensive preparation in the run-up to the contest.”
More recently, I heard a local expert say something that has stayed with me: even the most knowledgeable individuals—the experts—never take the stage without preparation. Not even for routine engagements. The mark of true wisdom isn’t just deep knowledge; it’s the humility to prepare, every single time.
Aristotle, often credited as the founder of rhetorical studies, defined rhetoric as “all available means of persuasion.” His treatise, The Rhetoric, was arguably the first textbook on public speaking. More than two thousand years later, his insights remain relevant. Effective speech isn’t born of inspiration alone—it’s built through structure, intention, and preparation.
“No race begins at the finish line,” the saying goes. Yet many of us act as though it does—especially in public speaking. Whether from overconfidence or ignorance, skipping the hard work of preparation leads only to disappointment.
Just as you can’t expect to get fit by simply paying for a gym membership, you can’t become a skilled speaker by joining a program alone. It takes sweat, repetition, and resilience.
I’ll admit: my own journey hasn’t been linear. A lack of preparation and wavering commitment interrupted my progress. That’s why a recent television segment—where a seasoned speaker emphasized the importance of preparation even for daily routines—struck such a chord.
We often glorify achievement, but neglect the invisible effort behind it. The hours of editing, rehearsing, failing, and trying again. That’s where the real work happens. As the old adage reminds us: the only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.
Contributed by Selamawit Kidane
