I can't think of any other high school class that influenced my life more than speech class. It sure wasn't algebra or chemistry.

I was recruited from Elementary Speech class to immediately progress to varsity debate. I guess I showed signs of being good at arguing a point ad nauseam.

At debate tournaments, individual competitions in extemporaneous and impromptu speaking were held prior to the formal debates. Extemporaneous (extemp) speaking caught my fancy. Contestants pulled a topic from a St. Louis Cardinal baseball hat and we were given 30 minutes to prepare. The topics were difficult and included domestic policy, economic policy and social issues.​ Preparation for extemp competition was year long.  

We prepared 3 x 5 note cards on almost any topic that appeared in news magazines. Our traveling filing cabinets of cards were a badge of honor to me. To others, all doubt was removed about my degree of geekiness. Fortunately, my high school bullies had yet to evolve to the state of advanced slushy tossing.

Most everyone who participated in speech competitions were good speakers.  Contest winners were almost always the best prepared. Winner's speeches were highlighted by relevant quotes, data and references.

Passionate persuasion worked better in debates.

Effective leaders participate in extemporaneous speaking competitions throughout their day. The best leaders are well prepared for every chance encounter with team members. "Off the cuff" is best left to salsa removal after lunch. Leaders speak about:

• mission
• goals
• numbers
• issues of the day

Leaders frequently deliver messages of hope. The leader is almost always on the stump.  Every word is intently heard. Body language is observed. Facial alignment with the message is noted. Mistakes made when speaking to the team are often difficult to erase. Think of your words as indelible ink.

• Prepare stories in advance
• Be prepared to discuss current trends that matter most in your organization
• Relate everything to mission
• Speak daily about progress toward goal achievement.

Leaders must be excellent speakers. Excellent speakers are the best prepared.

"... And all the people answered and said, 'It is well spoken' " (1 Kings 18:24, MEV).

Dr. Steve Greene is the publisher and executive vice president of the media group at Charisma Media and executive producer of the Charisma Podcast Network. His book, Love Leads: The Spiritual Connection Between Your Relationships and Productivity, is now available.

Leaders, Dr. Greene wants to help you understand the spiritual connection between relationships and productivity. Read his new blog, here.

Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

Dr. Steve Greene is now sharing stories, teachings, and conversations with guests who lead with love on Love Leads, a new podcast. Listen now.

Dr. Mark Rutland's

National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)

The NICL is one of the top leadership training programs in the U.S. taught by Dr. Mark Rutland. If you're the type of leader that likes to have total control over every aspect of your ministry and your future success, the NICL is right for you!

FREE NICL MINI-COURSE - Enroll for 3-hours of training from Dr. Rutland's full leadership course. Experience the NICL and decide if this training is right for you and your team.

The NICL Online is an option for any leader with time or schedule constraints. It's also for leaders who want to expedite their training to receive advanced standing for Master Level credit hours. Work through Dr. Rutland's full training from the comfort of your home or ministry at your pace. Learn more about NICL Online. Learn more about NICL Online.