By Prachi Kukreja

Video: Dangerous Leadership Mistakes That Are Costing You Credibility (Modlingua Live)

Public speaking and leadership are both an art and a skill. Nervousness and stage fright hold many people back, but those who learn to turn that fear into energy stand out. In this Modlingua Live webinar, Mr. Ravi Kumar opened with examples of great leaders and speakers, and two interns led the main parts.

Public speaking

Shubhangi Agarwal defined public speaking as speaking to a live audience to inform, persuade or entertain. Done well, it wins people over, spreads information and motivates listeners. Her tips for speaking well:

• Open with an introduction that grabs attention.
• Use gestures and an upright posture to show confidence.
• Choose your words carefully for greater impact.
• Involve the audience so they feel part of the talk.
• Deliver with enthusiasm, dress for the occasion and use your voice well.

Leadership

Prachi Kukreja covered what makes a leader:

• Communication, to share information and coach people.
• Courage, to take a stand when it is hard.
• Influence, which is not manipulation. Speaking with full transparency builds trust.
• Respect and empathy, understanding people's feelings and balancing emotion with good judgement.

Born or made?

Some people seem born with confidence, but most leaders grow into the role through practice. The webinar used Steve Jobs as an example of how a leader develops over time.

Boss or leader?

A boss talks, knows it all and demands results. A leader listens, keeps learning, motivates people to do their best and looks for solutions. The session compared it to parenting: a child who is constantly pushed about results struggles, while a child who gets support worries less about the outcome and puts more into the work.

Mr. Ravi Kumar closed with a reminder: before you are a leader, success is about growing yourself. Once you lead, success is about growing others.

Speaking clearly under pressure is also at the heart of interpreting. Learn about Modlingua's professional interpretation services.