I Learned Leadership In Public Speaking by Justin

I Learned Leadership In Public Speaking by Justin - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

Leadership is definitely a necessary attribute to have for college success. Webster’s dictionary defines leadership in three specific ways: “a position as a leader of a group, organization, etc.; the time when a person holds the position of leader; and the power or ability to lead other people.” I am hoping to pursue a doctorate in mass communications but I currently teach public speaking at two community colleges and a university. I have been through the system and now I’m a part of it.

If we just look at the public speaking class in general- leadership is developed and cultivated. One of the things that my students have to do is have their outline and rubric (the paper that I write comments and a grade on) on time and present with them when they give their speech. If they don’t I take ten points off for each. The reason is I do this is because I believe it to be a learning moment. I know in my own life and when they go into the world that they will have to be organized. Organization I believe is strongly correlated with one’s leadership ability. Punctuality is correlated with leadership ability. If you are not punctual and do not know where things are and you are disorganized you cannot succeed in a given speech, the public speaking class, college and really life in general. Can you think of a leader who was disorganized?

I try to make it clear that when a student gets up to give their speech it is their time. It is about respect. They are in the position to speak their mind about something. They need that respect. They are essentially a leader in that moment. They are a “leader of a group.” In particular the persuasive speech allows for one to persuade others why they should believe a certain way. They are attempting to convince us they have the “power or ability to lead other people.” We know that when persuading that one can be verbally aggressive or verbally argumentative. Verbal aggressiveness is just winning an argument by inflicting psychological pain on a person. Verbally argumentativeness is highly persuasive because you are willing to stand up for your rights- but you are respectful of the other person. You don’t name call. You are respectful. A true leader is respectful of others.

I teach that what you say is just as important as how you say something. In terms of what one says- that refers to content and that is pretty straight-forward. You would use words to try and convince/lead others to believe the same way that you do. However, you can use nonverbal communication to demonstrate power and leadership. Nonverbal communication has been estimated by some to be 90% of all communication. The way you utilize space is nonverbal communication. I talk to my students about the ability to stand away from the podium. By doing this it can represent openness, likeability, closeness, power…and leadership. Standing away from the podium is just one example of using nonverbal communication to demonstrate leadership.

A big misconception about college and in particular the public speaking class is that one has to be an extrovert and outgoing in order to succeed. I think this is a major misconception about not just the public speaking class but of leadership in general. I understand this misconception. When we think of leaders (and public speakers) we think of politicians, preachers- but some of the best students and speakers I have are quiet- until they have to speak. When they speak a lot of times they have something thought provoking to say. One can lead by example. The person in a college class that sits up close (back to spatial communication), doesn’t speak when others do, listens intently- whether or not they realize it- they are having a huge impact on others as a leader.

I know in my own life- my college degrees have been immeasurable. Let’s face it- many of us go to college because we want to put ourselves in positions to be successful. A lot of times that can be monetary rewards. What happens is we learn about and are exposed to ideas and things that we didn’t know about before. The power of an education can never be taken away. You can lose your job, money but knowledge is power and it is yours. I remember taking public speaking as an undergrad- believe it or not I wasn’t a fan at first. I wasn’t very good at it. I was shy and quiet and I still have a lot of those qualities. I’m so glad I took that class because it took me out of my comfort zone and it made me get in front of people and speak. After a while I got used to it and enjoyed it. It’s crazy enough- but I became a teacher of it. That is what college does- it shapes and it molds you. One of the things that we talk about in the public speaking class early on when overcoming anxiety is that “public speakers are not born they are made.” Just like leaders are not born they are made. You don’t decide one day to be a leader. You have to put yourself in positions to overcome and succeed. That’s what public speaking class and that is what college taught me.