Rhetoric

Rhetoric is the art of communicating in such a way that you can influence, impress and motivate your listeners. 2 years ago, I started practicing it actively. I started to speak in front of people, sometimes voluntarily, sometimes in some events and speech competitions, and a lot of times in the online world. If I have maintained a streak of anything till now in the last 2 years with all of my heart, that’s speaking. And in this journal, I will teach you rhetoric.

“A person skilled in rhetoric has the power to lead the masses.”

The base of rhetoric is confidence. Some are naturally confident from childhood, as they spend time in such an environment which makes them confident, and some, unlike me, aren’t confident from childhood, as we didn’t live in such an environment. We learnt it through trials and tribulations. Sometimes it becomes challenging for those who are introverted and have never taken any bold moves. Those who aren’t able to build this confidence often act submissively, and some people use them for their own benefit, and they aren’t able to refrain from it.

You can never be good at rhetoric if you aren’t confident. The key to confidence is competence.
Competence means having the knowledge, skills, experience, and ability to do something well. When you become competent at something, you don’t need to pretend that you are confident. Your ability itself gives you confidence.

Shallow confidence or fake confidence will never make you good at rhetoric. People can smell it from you. If you are reading my writings, I want you to become a leader in life, and people follow those who are real, so become real with competence.

When I learnt this secret that competence is key to confidence and confidence is a key to rhetoric, moreover, when I learnt confidence is a bold move for the one who is introverted. I started practicing it with all of my zeal and curiosity. I took a plethora of bold moves, I obliterated my fear. I also started acquiring more knowledge which would help me in extempore rhetoric and tried to make myself competent, which I still do. And with these acts, I became more confident. I haven’t stopped yet, I still do it, as I haven’t reached the pinnacle of rhetoric.

Once a person becomes good at it, he can do anything in life. It’s the next level of communication. There are people who don’t have that many skills but know how to talk, they rule over others, but if you know both the skills and rhetoric, you will become a charismatic person.

However, don’t confuse rhetoric with just the art of delivery, as that is the main objective, but there are other things as well which a person needs to follow behind the main objective. It includes your body language, the way you dress, tone of voice, how you act as well.

I have read about a lot of people who were good at rhetoric. From Aristotle, Seneca and Cicero to Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr.,  and Nelson Mandela, history is full of people who knew how to communicate their ideas and influence people. Their styles were different, but they understood the power of words.

The reason why I write these journals is for two purposes. One, for myself, to improve my writing without copying things from others, express my thoughts, and for future memories. Later, if I have to explain anything to anyone and I don’t have time, I can refer him to any of my journals. And second, for readers. I remain honest in journals. These journals can help people to get my perspective and new thoughts which might help them to realize something to become great in life.

Highly influential people are often good at rhetoric. Improve in it and become the best.

Tip: Your surroundings matter. If you surround yourself with those who aren’t good at communication, you may become one among them. Surround yourself with those who can inspire you, and eventually, their influence will make you better.

“If someone will ask me, tell me one skill which isn’t optional to become great, influential, or a leader in life, my answer would be rhetoric.”