3 Reasons to Become a Better Speaker (Even if You're Not Pursuing Public Speaking)

My Journey from Shy Kid to “The Chief”
I was that kid in elementary school who froze the second my teacher called my name. Even if I knew the answer, my face would turn beet-red, my mouth would go dry, and I’d wish I could vanish. In 6th grade, everything changed when our English teacher, Sajid Khan, introduced us to poetry. Suddenly, I learned the difference between iambic pentameter, haikus, and free verse, and I fell head-over-heels for self-expression.

By 7th grade in Ms. Saima Ashraf’s class, I was still nervous, but when poetry was on the line, I’d somehow find the courage to stand up and share. I remember writing a poem about chocolate (don’t ask me why) and feeling the shock of exhilaration when the whole class burst into applause for me. That moment was my first real taste of what public speaking could do for my confidence.

Here are the three massive lessons that sprang from my journey and why you need to level up your speaking today. 

1) Nervous today ≠ Permanently nervous

Lesson: Just because you shake at the start doesn’t mean you’re stuck there forever.

I was 11, red-faced and stuttering, yet I kept showing up at the mic because poetry lit something in me. By 8th grade, I dove into spoken-word and hip-hop, and by 10th grade, I even ran for high-school student council VP with a campaign rap blasting through the halls. (I lost by six votes… shout-out to Atif Khan, my campaign partner, who knows how close it was.)  

2) Creativity + Courage = Exponential Results

Lesson: Sharing your unique creativity can 10× your impact.

My entire campaign hinged on one rap song, and even though I didn’t win, I gained instant visibility, built friendships, and proved that one bold, creative move can outshine ten “safe” speeches or campaign efforts. In college, for my final presentation on “Derogatory Terminology in Rap Music” for Professor Eckstone’s communications class at San José State, he told the class at the end of the speech:

“Chafik delivered a perfect presentation. To the point where he could have read numbers out of a phonebook and he would have still passed with a high grade.”

That feedback was a lightbulb moment for me: your creativity plus the guts to share it is far stronger than playing it safe.

Quick tip: Pick one creative medium—poetry, a short skit, a rap verse, even a meme—and weave it into your next talk. Watch how people lean in when you break the mold.  

3) It’s Not What You Say, It’s How You Say It

Lesson: Mastering delivery transforms your message into magnetism.

Professor Eckstone’s praise taught me that delivery is EVERYTHING. The same content, delivered with energy, clarity, and presence, hooks your audience and makes them hang on every word and every emotion.

• Voice: Vary your pitch and pace, don’t drone.

• Body: Use open gestures, steady eye contact, and move your hands.

• Structure: Own a simple “Rule of Three” framework to keep listeners on track.

Quick tip: Record yourself reading any paragraph. Play it back and note one thing to tweak: more pauses, stronger gestures, a brighter tone. Small delivery tweaks compound into huge audience engagement. Don’t try to get everything right off the bat. I’d rather you nail down one thing and then move on to the next. 

Putting It All Together
Look, becoming a magnetic speaker doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a journey of small, intentional steps. Remember, feeling nervous today doesn’t lock you into fear forever, your boldest creative risks wield exponential influence, and mastering the “how” of your delivery turns any message into pure magnetism.

Keep practicing one tip at a time, own your posture, flex your creativity, refine your voice, and you’ll watch doors open in your career. Your confidence will skyrocket, and your story will reach audiences you never thought possible. The moment you decide to step up is the moment your life’s trajectory changes. No one’s ever regretted becoming a better public speaker.

If you have absolutely no idea where to start but found this message inspiring, follow the link below to a free e-book that’s a QUICK 4–6 minute read. It’ll change your perspective the next time you have to speak in front of any crowd of any size.

Get your Free E-Book.

Until next time -
I’ll see you on stage 🎤

Chafik “The Chief” Ziadeh
Founder, Book The Chief
Public Speaking Coach & Emcee
Instagram: @chafikthechief | LinkedIn: Chafik Ziadeh