Why We Coach Public Speaking to Our Strength Ambassadors
According to a 2016 study by the National Institute of Health, 75% of adults fear public speaking. It ranks above many other common fears, including spiders and heights. It even ranks higher than the fear of death! That fear, in turn, can make effective communication difficult, which affects how an individual approaches life in relationships, careers, and within the community. With that statistic in mind, consider how much the skill of public speaking can benefit the youth.
How Learning Public Speaking Can Benefit the Youth
Our young people can be better prepared for the world in that they can take on leadership positions more confidently, both in their community and in their careers, if they can communicate effectively. This is why we take the time to build Public Speaking training into our Strength Ambassadors curriculum. The skill of public speaking is often overlooked when teaching young people how to succeed, but it’s highly important for building self-confidence and social awareness. We recognize that almost any good job will involve standing in front of groups of people and speaking with confidence. Someone who can communicate with confidence is often viewed more positively among peers and will even be looked up to as a leader. This places them in positions where they can guide and coach others, creating a generation of strong leaders.
Some other ways that learning public speaking can benefit the youth:
- It is empowering. If a child has a fear of public speaking, it’s much easier for them to overcome such a fear than it is for an adult. Once they’ve learned to overcome a fear, they’ll be empowered to do so with other fears as they face them among life’s many challenges.
- It makes for better leaders. Public speaking teaches young people to speak with confidence, and in a way that’s trustworthy. This draws others to see the speaker as a leader, and the speaker can guide with more confidence.
- They become good listeners and can empathize. When someone is communicating effectively, that means they are listening, too. They’ll need to listen carefully to questions and feedback, analyze the details or situations, and make decisions accordingly. This means they’ll be stronger in both personal relationships and forming connections in the professional world. What better way is there to raise a generation of people who want to lead change in the community?
Children who learn public speaking at a young age grow to have more social awareness, better leadership skills, and a sense of confidence and responsibility. These areas are where public speaking can benefit the youth, and why it’s important for them to begin learning this skill at a young age.
Strengthen Baltimore’s Youth with MissionFit!
At MissionFit, we recognize the fact that community, family, and healthy social relationships are essential to setting goals. We are highly dedicated to strengthening Baltimore youth through classes and an open gym. It’s our goal to encourage positive traits, like respect and teamwork, and provide children with a place to gain self-confidence and enjoy some exercise. To learn more about our classes or donate to support our mission, visit our website. We’re making health a possibility and a priority for Baltimore’s youth and helping to foster more black leaders from Baltimore. If you want to support youth programs in Baltimore, here are two easy ways to do so through MissionFit:
- Donate here if you believe community, family, and relationships impact health!
- You can put your online shopping to good use by donating a percentage of your purchase with AmazonSmile! To get started, sign in here, search for “MissionFit” and select us as your charity of choice.
