By Munnawar Sultana.....
One of the most precious moments for me in my public speaking journey came recently during my attendance at a Vision Toastmasters meeting in Hyderabad when I spoke as a Table Topic Speaker. Being one among the best Table Topic Speakers of that evening, I could say that to a great extent, it was much of an honor to win the title. It was a profound experience because, in many ways, it didn't feel too close to my heart, but it was kind of funny as I spoke about what my family has meant to my personal and professional growth.
The Challenge of Speaking Off-the-Cuff
For those not familiar with Table Topics, they are impromptu speeches on a randomly given topic, usually just a few moments before. It's certainly a great challenge that really pushes one's ability to think of things off the top of one's head and on their heart. When the subject "Who Impacted Me the Most?" was thrown my way, I knew that the easiest way to connect with the audience was through a story I cherished closely-one about my family.
A Tribute to My Family
I began by sharing with the audience how my family's values and support formed the bedrock of my character. As a child, I had the unrelenting encouragement of my parents as well as the collaboration of my siblings. My mother was the best example of resilient thinking; she would make us stay positive even in the face of problems, that one day she would succeed. My father was a man of principle, bringing integrity and hard work into my life, lessons that set north for me in my personal and professional life.
A Room Full of Emotion
As I related my experience with the family, deeply alive was the emotion that was made inside the room. Heads nodded, and smiles broke out, even a tear or two fell on occasion. It was not just the story of my family, but one that every one of them had been molded by within that room: because they'd been molded by those who guided and inspired them.
This link-the real emotions that I could see in the audience-this experience was something unique. I was not addressing a hall full of strangers. I was inviting them into my life, giving them a piece of myself, and they cared for me. They showed warmth and understanding.
Winning the Best Table Topic Speaker Title
That evening, when my name was announced as the Best Table Topic Speaker, I just felt thankful. Not because I had won, but because my family's story had touched the hearts of so many. I felt that sharing with them the impact they had on my life was not only a tribute to them but also, in some small way, breathed into people an appreciation for their people who had made them who they are today.
The Power of Authenticity in Public Speaking
This will have served to reinforce something I have always believed: authenticity is a powerful thing. Public speaking won't be about how pithy your words are or what extremely curvaceous rhetoric you've crafted. It's about part of you going out into the audience. When we speak from a place of truth, people connect. They see themselves in our stories, and that connection is what makes a speech impactful.
My Takeaway
The evening at Vision Toastmasters Hyderabad taught me to learn sometimes that the stories closest to us resonate the most. Winning the title of Best Table Topic Speaker was a great honor, but the greatest prize is the chance to share my gratitude for my family and listen afterwards as others can relate the experience to theirs.
This moment reminded me of what is basically my passion with motivational speaking-to touch lives, to inspire hearts, to remind people that gratitude can be one of the biggest weapons of resilience. To whoever is reading this: tell the people who made you, to honor them, and share your story-you never know how many lives you can inspire when you share yours.
