How to improve your public speaking skills

In today’s post, I’d like to strongly suggest (if you’re not doing so already) that you get involved in an activity that will improve your public speaking skills.

If you’re on the path to a service academy or an ROTC program, there will be countless times when these skills will come in handy.

For one, if you are a leader of a club, sports team, Scout Troop, or student gov’t, public speaking and communication skills are a must. In these roles, you will often be expected, if not required, to address large groups of people. These groups could include other club members, students, parents, faculty, VIPs, members of the community - you name it.

In order to command their attention and respect, you must have command of the language.

Not only will you sound more legitimate, confident, and trustworthy, but your influence will go way up.

Your speaking skills will also be on full display in the many interviews you’ll have: congressional nomination panel, B&G Officer, Air Force Liaison Officer, Field Force Representative, ROTC officer, college interviews, scholarship interviews, peer interviews, etc.

You will want to be a polished public speaker or at least an experienced public speaker before you go through this gauntlet.

If you are pitching yourself as someone who wants to be a military officer, a leader of men and women on the front lines, it stands to reason that public speaking should be a craft that you are actively cultivating.

After all, speaking in front of groups, influencing people, communicating orders, giving briefs and debriefs, is part of the job description of a military officer. You may as well get used to it.

HOW TO GAIN EXPERIENCE

There are a lot of ways to acquire public speaking experience. The best way is probably to get a leadership position where you’re forced to stand up in front of people to talk over and over again - the more reps the better.

This trial-by-fire method may be a little rocky in the beginning, but if you stick with it, you’ll get the hang of it. Maybe you can get these reps as the captain of a sports team, a Patrol Leader in Scouting, the head of student gov’t, or a PTSA representative? Maybe you want to get a role in a theater production, make IG videos, or get a job with a speaking role?

The opportunities are endless, including in these activities: Mock Trial, Speech & Debate, Model UN, Toastmasters

All of these organizations are very focused on public speaking in slightly different formats. Check them out and see what you like.

My sons participated in all of these activities. Mock Trial (as a prosecuting attorney and lead witness) Speech & Debate (where they paired up in the Parliamentary style debate), captains of sports teams, Senior Patrol Leaders of their Boy Scout Troops, Presidents of the National League of Young Men service group.

By the time they hit the college admissions interview circuit, they had a lot of public speaking experience.

In fact, after working with a lot of ServeWellers over the past few years, and interviewing many students during Yale and Harvard alumni interviews, I can tell right away which students have public speaking experience and which do not.

You will definitely want to be the person “with” public speaking experience because it really leaves a positive impression.

If you’re a little more shy or introverted than the average student, you may want to make this a top priority.  If you’re more outgoing and comfortable addressing larger groups, then keep refining your craft.

Either way, make an effort to improve your public speaking skills before interview season rolls around. You’ll be glad you did.