With a combination of passion, clarity, and a deep understanding of the fears and challenges people face, Shriram’s Shriram, a professional speaker, has made it his mission to help individuals transform their fear into confidence, enabling them to speak with clarity and passion. His upcoming workshop, titled “How to Own the Stage,” is designed to empower participants to conquer their fears, eliminate filler words, and genuinely connect with their audience.
Shriram’s passion for public speaking was ignited during his school years when he participated in inter-school debates and even represented his school at an all-India level competition. However, it was only in the last three years that he decided to pursue public speaking professionally. This decision was spurred by encouragement from his mentor, who saw the alignment between Shriram’s natural skill sets and his potential to inspire others. “I have always had a passion for public speaking ever since I was in school,” he recalls. “But it was only in the last three years that I decided to become a professional speaker and inspire people along the way.”
Through his journey, Shriram has been influenced by some of the greats, including Barack Obama. “I have been the recipient of some great advice and have also first-hand experienced the power and inspiration by listening to great speakers,” he shares. Shriram believes that public speaking is a powerful medium for people to express their messages on topics they care about. His experiences presenting at significant platforms like TEDxMonashUniversity and Coles have reinforced his belief that anyone can communicate effectively if they overcome the common barriers of confidence and clarity. “While they were both huge platforms, these experiences only reinforced my beliefs that people have the abilities to communicate effectively and powerfully but they might lack the confidence and clarity to do so,” he says.
One of the core elements of Shriram’s workshop is helping participants “own the stage” by eliminating filler words like ‘umms’ and ‘aahs.’ He emphasises the importance of being comfortable with silence, as these fillers often distance the speaker from the listener, rather than creating a connection. “We feel the need to fill silences,” Shriram explains. “My workshop aims to make people comfortable with silence. We don’t need fillers. ‘Umms’ and ‘Aahs’ only distance the listener even more when speakers need to focus on forging a strong personal connection.” Shriram believes that for speakers to command the full attention of their audience, they must first be able to read the room and understand the audience’s pulse.
Shriram recognises that fear is one of the most significant challenges people face when it comes to public speaking. This fear often stems from the fear of failure or rejection, which people commonly mislabeled as a fear of public speaking. His workshop addresses this by redefining what failure means and promoting self-acceptance. “Common fears are ‘fear of failure’ and ‘fear of rejection,’ and people usually just phrase it as ‘fear of public speaking,’ which according to certain people is greater than the fear of death!” Shriram observes. He also highlights the importance of having faith in one’s own abilities as an antidote to fear, something his workshop aims to instill in participants.
Shriram places a strong emphasis on developing the right mindset for public speaking, which he believes is crucial to expressing one’s personality authentically. He explains that speaking without fear largely comes down to being comfortable in one’s own skin. “When one is comfortable in their own skin, they express themselves freely, and they are ‘themselves’ rather than trying to be someone else, which can be very tiring and unauthentic,” Shriram notes. His workshop focuses on helping participants connect with their audience by first connecting with their own passions and interests. “I also help participants connect with the love and passion they have for their subject matter itself, and that will fuel the need to communicate it and spread it, and the authenticity then just comes naturally.”
Body language is another crucial aspect of Shriram’s training. He encourages participants to see their body as a friend and use it to support their speech rather than viewing it as an obstacle. “I introduce the body as a friend and specifically focus on things like the use of hands, using the voice, and even smiling as accessories to a great speech,” he explains. Shriram also works on breaking limiting beliefs that may hold participants back from using body language effectively.
The success of Shriram’s workshops can be seen in the transformations of his participants. He recalls one particular individual who went from a state of shattered confidence to a place of supreme clarity and genuine confidence, thanks to the tools and techniques learned in the workshop. “It was just a beautiful feeling to play a little role in that growth,” Shriram reflects.
Shriram ensures that the techniques and strategies taught in his workshop are sustainable and can be applied long-term by participants. He provides action sheets and goal sheets to help them continue their journey with commitment and discipline after the workshop. Tailoring the content to suit the diverse needs of participants is also a priority for Shriram. While he acknowledges the diversity among participants, he focuses on universal emotions like fear and lack of confidence, which affect everyone. For more specific needs, he offers one-on-one sessions to provide personalised guidance.
Looking ahead, Shriram is eager to expand his public speaking workshops, starting with regular sessions across Melbourne and eventually offering them in other cities as well. His mission is clear: to empower more speakers and help them find their voice. For those just starting out in public speaking, Shriram’s advice is simple yet profound: “Fall in love with the subject matter. That passion will ensure you get through the toughest of times. Also, develop clarity on your topic or theme; that clarity will help in developing lasting confidence.”
As the field of public speaking continues to evolve, Shriram sees potential changes on the horizon, particularly with the role of technology and AI. However, he remains convinced that the greatest impact a speaker can have is on a live audience, where emotions like love and passion play a critical role. For Shriram, the most rewarding part of his career in public speaking has been witnessing the growth and transformation of others. “Seeing them come out of their shell and break the shackles is a feeling that cannot be described,” he says.
Shriram draws inspiration from some of the world’s most admired public speakers, including Barack Obama, Narendra Modi, and Simon Sinek. “All of them have unbridled passion for what they speak about, and they play to their strengths,” he observes. When preparing for his own speeches, Shriram believes in structure and clarity, practising extensively and using positive self-talk to get into the right mindset before stepping onto the stage.
With a combination of passion, clarity, and a deep understanding of the fears and challenges people face, Shriram’s workshop “How to Own the Stage” promises to be a transformative experience for anyone looking to become a confident and effective public speaker.
The upcoming workshop, “How to Own the Stage,” is scheduled to take place on the 12th and 13th of September. It will be held at the Clayton Community Theatre from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM on both days. The cost to attend the workshop is $298. For those interested in enhancing their public speaking skills and transforming their stage presence, this event offers a unique opportunity to learn from a seasoned professional.
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Public speaker Shriram’s upcoming workshop, “How to Own the Stage,” aims to help participants conquer fears, connect with audiences, & speak with passion. Join the conversation & discover how you can elevate your public speaking skills! 🎤💪 #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/nlJAmy1vvc
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