I was not naturally born to be good in
public speaking. There was one moment in my life when I was in a pre-U program
that I discovered my interest in it with my nature as someone who love sharing
knowledge and experiences that I gained with others.
Today, when I look back, I noticed that
I love seeing people on TV and talking on live shows and different people
getting the crowd listening to them since I was a small kid. Other than that I also
watched some English series on TV such as Sesame Street, Dallas, Chips and etc
which did create some interest in me about conversation with people especially English.
Then when TV3 came into the picture, I
admired some of Malaysian news presenters on TV who speak very fluent English with the unique Malaysian accent despite English is not their mother tough language. The name like Wan Zaleha
Radzi and Raymond Goh were the people that I could not wait to hear on TV
especially when they were on the news program. Prior to that the name like
Harjit Singh on RTM news program
was also captured my attention.
Speaking and presenting like fluently
like them then became my dream that always wanted to be and
the key barriers for me was, I grew up in a small village where English is
zero at home where the only place and time to learn and speak was few
hours or English subject in the English at school. My day to day communication at school and at home was 100% in Malay or in Negeri Sembilan dialect.
At some point, I wanted to become a
teacher since their job really make them talking to others almost all the time.
As I grew up in my student's days
and in my career, there have been few more people that I love seeing them
presenting and how they speak to their audiences.
My first encounter with someone who captured my attention towards
public speaking was when I listened to the speech from one of the former woman
ministers at one event in my school 1990. I was in form 4 and her name is Dato'
Napsiah Omar and I listened to her speech as a guest of honour for the opening
ceremony of an event for secondary school students. Her initial speech was in
Malay but changed slowly mixed with more English towards the end. What really
captured my mind was, her speech was full of spirit and passion to lift
our motivation as students who must excel in our exam for the sake of our
future. On top of that, I love her Malay accent when she spoke in English very
fluently.
The next significant one was when
I was a participant of a motivational program organized by Seremban Mara College for
first year matriculation students in 1992. The key presenter was Mr. Lawrence
Walter Ng from the Art of Learning. What really amazed me was, he interacted
with us in a big hall while giving his speech to introduce the program.
With my early character which is quiet
and shy, it took me years to develop the skills step by step in facing the
audience through a public speaking until today.
My first breakthrough in public speaking for me was I was
forced to give a speech at a weekly assembly when I was in a second year of
matriculation course. I was the class monitor and no one was willing to
volunteer to represent the class for the mandatory slot for each class on
weekly basis. It took just few days to prepare to select the topic and then
speak about it in front of lecturers and few hundreds of students from the same
batch.
It was a little surprise as well when
one of my lecturers told after that, my topic was interesting and I presented it well in that few minutes slot.
Then, I entered the campus where I had
the opportunity when I joined a student association where I started to have
more exposure in public speaking.
I attended a few basic programs on
public speaking and other communication skills outside my lecture hours which
were organized by the association as well.
On top of that, I was able to practise
what I learned to in events and program organized as the emcee , project
director and later the chairman where I had to give briefings and speeches.
My truly first big breakthrough in a
formal speech or talk in a public was when I was selected as the emcee of the
UKM's Career Day in 1995. The event was officiated by a minister and all almost
all key VVIPs of the university were there too. The Guest of Honour
on the main stage was Dato' Dr. Mohammad Yusof Noor, the minister, Puan
(Now Dato') Rafiah Salim from Maybank and the Vice Chancellor of UKM. It took
me few months to prepare and practise but luckily, I had few experienced
seniors as my mentors along the way from the same association.
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| My first "big" Emcee task in 1995, UKM |
I was so worry and nervous but finally
with all the preparation and guidance, I pulled it through with a huge
congratulation from the adviser of our association and all members after
that.
That really motivated me and has
installed a strong believe in me that I was on the way to reach one of my
childhood dreams. Although at time, it may seem too much to ask but quietly, I
started to have the dream to be on TV too.
In the following years, I started to
become more comfortable to speak in public to different types of audience. I
delivered more talks and speeches after that especially I move my rank in
the association. I gave a speech at the opening ceremony as the project
director in at another UKM's career day in the following year. A year after
that I gave speeches as the chairman at the Career Day and the National
Workshop on Education and Career Planning for Secondary Schools in the opening
and closing ceremonies.
 |
| Giving a welcoming speech at the opening ceremony as a project director in 1996 |
I will write in a different entry on my journey in public speaking in my career. It was another challenging, colourful and meaningful journey to me too where I discovered more about how far I want to go into this area.
I will write in a different entry on my
journey in public speaking in my career. It was another challenging, colourful
and meaningful journey to me too where I discovered more about how far I want
to go into this area.
WHO ARE MY IDOLS?
I did have any one particular role model when I was developing my presentation skills until I reached a level where I started to ask a question to myself.
" What type of presenter or speaker that I exactly wanted to be?"
Such questions only keep popping up in my mind since 6-7 years ago since I have started to feel more comfortable with my skills, strengths and overall abilities in giving talks.
 |
| My progress by the year of 2011 |
After spending sometime searching, I finally concluded there are two persons who I really keen to emulate and to become my key reference in presentation.
They are....and you can enjoy on how the "entertain" their audience in the selected videos here too.
- Commencement Speech at Standford University in 2005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLc
- Introducing iPhone in 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2MOwQ089eQ
- Introducing iPad in 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KATFgBlSJ8
2. Dato' Seri Idris Jala - Perfomance Management Delivery Unit(PEMANDU)
- Introduction to Economic Transformation Program (ETP)
Why I adore their ways?
1. To me both of them are not just presenters. They are more like entertainers to me.When they deliver their talks on stage or in any type of conversation to public for big or small audience.
2. When they are on the stage, people will look and focus to them instead of all aids that they prepared in background slides or videos.
3. The way they speak sound like words that coming out from their heart, processed by their brain quickly and delivered nicely by their mouth to touch the mind and eyes of their audience.
4. They move around like "playing" on the stage and enjoy each second of their time with the audience
5. They use simple words, sharp and touching.
6. Smooth and in logical sequence that play with wave of emotion of the audience where you will clap your hands or cheer naturally.
7. They are not presenting but telling stories.
8. They speak with the audience and not to the audience.
9. They let the audience "follow" their flow and movements on the stage.
10. People keen to see them presenting as much as how people keen and excited to hear what they will present.
11. They inspire!
I believe my ability in presenting or speaking in public confidently has helped more than my qualification as an engineering degree holders. It has brought me across many sectors and many high level people at local an international stages in my field of career.
I am very grateful to Allah who gives me strengths to make the first big step to go out from my inferiority complex to speak up to the public at a quite early stage of my before I jumped into career world.
It was tough to learn and to overcome barriers from within my mind and within my social circle in campus because generally, engineering students are not known or expected to the type I was. Now I feel everything is worth it and now I am able to share some experiences to my kids and whoever reading this too.
I also believe you can do it too but you must take the first step. In the real world out here, to go to the top, in many organizations, your ability to convince them that you better is by showing it to them in you communication.
You will have to present your works, you solutions, progress of your department and etc. and all that are all about presenting to others either to your subordinates and your colleagues or your top management.
That would be the time you be observed and assessed on your capability and credentials because to be good leaders, excellent in communication especially in delivering your messages across is one of the key success factors.
Now is the time for you to start if you haven't and to keep improving if you already have the skills. I am doing the same too because things can change over time and you always need to embrace current changes and style to remain on top of your game.
All the best to you!
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