Debating is an essential life skill that helps children develop confidence, learn to think on their feet, and argue their point of view. It also teaches them how to research, structure an argument and articulate their thoughts clearly. While not all children will learn how to debate properly at school, it is actually a very important life skill that can benefit them in many ways.

Why is it important for kids to learn to debate?

Debating is an important skill for kids to learn for a number of reasons. 

First, it helps kids to think critically and to see both sides of an issue. This is an important life skill that will help them not only in their future studies and careers but also in life more generally – it is crucial to understand concepts from multiple viewpoints to have a balanced perspective of the world (even if you don’t necessarily agree with all those viewpoints). 

Secondly, it teaches kids how to communicate effectively. They learn how to articulate their thoughts and arguments clearly and persuasively. This is a valuable skill not only in their education but also in the workplace, as it helps people bring others around to their point of view. 

Finally, debating introduces kids to different viewpoints and opinions. They learn about other people’s perspectives and can develop their own opinions on various issues. Debating clubs and public speaking courses are great extra-curricular activities for kids to get involved in to learn these invaluable skills!

Kids who are debaters tend to make excellent leaders

Debating also helps to build the skills of future leaders. Debaters learn how to think on their feet, how to defend their convictions and how to argue persuasively. These are all essential qualities for any leader. Good leaders need to be able to communicate their vision and inspire others to follow them, making this activity the perfect education for aspiring leaders.

Three steps for debating success

Participating in a debate is an excellent way to hone your argumentative and public speaking skills. In order to be successful, it is important to follow three key steps: preparation, engagement, and feedback.

Preparation is crucial for any debate. You need to carefully craft your arguments and practice your delivery within the strict time limit – often less than an hour in most competitions. This will help you stay calm and confident when engaging with your teammates. 

Secondly, engagement is all about actively listening to the other side and thinking on your feet. You need to be able to quickly come up with rebuttals to the other side’s points in order to persuade the adjudicator that your team’s case is comparatively better than theirs. This can be challenging, but it’s also where the fun of the activity comes in – the adrenaline rush of coming up with responses on the fly.

Finally, feedback is essential for improving your arguing skills. After each debate, take some time to reflect on your performance and think about what you could have done better. This feedback can come from anyone – the adjudicator, your teammates, an audience member or even your own personal reflection. By doing this, you will become an even more effective debater in the future – it is definitely true that we can learn from our mistakes!

So, how does debating work?

Debating is a great way to learn about the different viewpoints from two sides and hone your ability to argue. But how does it actually work? In most Australian formats, there are two teams of three(and sometimes four) people each: the first speaker, second speaker, third speaker, and sometimes also a silent fourth ‘speaker’.

The affirmative (proposition) team argues in favor of the topic, while the negative (opposition) team argues against it. In the debate, each team takes turns giving their speeches with affirmative starting first until six speeches have been presented (although some competitions also have two extra ‘reply speeches’). The goal is to persuade the judge that if they were to compare your case with that of the other team, it is more likely that your side is on the more preferable side of the debate. 

What are the responsibilities of each speaker in the debate?

The first speakers on each team have the responsibility of introducing the topic and giving their side’s general stance on it – this might involve a model from the affirmative, and a position from the negative. They also need to present the team’s main arguments and lay out the structure of the debate. 

The second speakers on each team are responsible for responding to the other team’s arguments and presenting additional arguments of their own. They also need to rebut any points that the other team brings up, both in terms of attacking the other side’s ideas, and defending their first speaker from any attacks the opposition has raised.

The third speakers have the responsibility of summarising all of the arguments that have been made and giving the team’s final stance on the issue, as well as any final rebuttals. The third speakers are not supposed to introduce any new substantive material – their role is to sum up what has happened and raise any final issues their team has with the other side’s case.

Who is an adjudicator (and what do they do)?

An adjudicator is a person who presides over a debate and decides who the winner is. The adjudicator’s role is to listen to the arguments of both sides, consider the points raised and make a fair and impartial decision.

There are several factors that an adjudicator takes into account when making their decision. These include the quality of the arguments presented, the use of evidence to back up the central claims, and the overall persuasiveness of each side. Importantly, an adjudicator must be reasonable and unbiased – they need to leave their own thoughts and feelings at the door, and judge the debate on its own merits. 

In order to make an informed decision, it is important that adjudicators are well-versed in the rules of debating. They must be able to identify logical fallacies and other invalid arguments. Adjudicators must also be able to keep a neutral stance throughout the debate and not let their own personal opinions influence their decision.

The adjudicator’s decision is final and cannot be appealed. The winning team is the side that the adjudicator believes presented the best arguments and reasoning in support of their position.

Adjudicators play an important role in ensuring that debates are fair and unbiased. They provide an essential service in ensuring that only the strongest arguments prevail. Adjudicators help to level the playing field by giving both sides an equal chance to present their case and win the debate.

Audience etiquette during debates

The role of the audience in a debate is to provide support and feedback for the debaters. While not all debates take place in front of an audience, when there is one present there are some important rules to be followed. 

First and foremost, the audience should remain respectful at all times. This means refraining from booing, cheering, or otherwise disrupting the flow of the debate.

Another important rule for audiences is to refrain from showing favouritism towards either debater. This means remaining impartial and objective throughout the course of the debate. Audience members should not show any obvious signs of agreement or disagreement with either side of the debate, regardless of their own personal feelings. 

By following these rules, the audience can play an important role in ensuring that the debate is fair and productive. Additionally, these rules help to ensure that the debate remains focused on the issues at hand and does not devolve into personal attacks or other distractions.

What is the role of a debating coach, and what do they do?

Most people associate coaches with sports, but there are coaches for all sorts of activities – including debating! A debating coach is someone who helps children learn how to debate effectively, much like our coaches at Speaking Schools Australasia.

A good coach will help children understand how to structure an argument, how to research both sides of an issue, and how to deliver their arguments in a clear and convincing way. By teaching children these skills, a debating coach can help them become more confident and competent communicators.

You may see some debating coaches present at competitive debates. The reason that coaches sometimes come to watch debates is so that they can provide feedback to their students to help them improve their debating skills and strategies. The coach’s role is to help the team learn from their mistakes and also to point out what they did well, similar to the role of a coach in one of our debating courses at Speaking Schools Australasia.

Often, either an external coach will be hired by a school to help teach kids debating, or a school teacher will coach the team. Unlike adjudicators, they do not decide who wins the debate, but they do watch their students alk and give them feedback for next time. This feedback is invaluable in their debating education.

What kind of debating competitions are there in Australia?

Debating is a popular activity in Australia, with many competitions taking place at the primary school, high school, and university levels of education.

Primary school competitions typically involve debating a topic for a few minutes each. Topics can be anything from “That we should ban homework” to “That the city is better than the country“, and usually involve topic areas that the students can directly relate to. 

High school competitions are very prevalent in Australia and vary from state to state. The topics tend to be more serious and complex than those debated in primary schools, such as “That Australia should become a republic” or “That employers should be allowed to access the criminal records of job applicants“.

Most people think of debating as something that is only important for people who want to become lawyers or politicians. However, debating is actually a really valuable skill for people of all ages, and it can be especially beneficial for kids.

In particular, it is a useful and important life skill that can help kids become better critical thinkers, communicators, and problem-solvers. 

How can we help?

In this blog post, we’ve outlined how debating works and the different roles involved in a debate. 

If you’re ready to take your skillset to the next level, why not enrol in one of our debating or public speaking courses today? Our courses cover multiple ability levels for students of all ages from Kindy through to Year 9 (with debating starting from Year 3). There are many ways to get kids involved in debating, such as joining an intensive school holiday workshop or taking part in a weekly after-school program.

There are also many online resources and courses available to help kids learn the basics of debating. Check out our YouTube channel for our ‘Conquering Debating’ Series which breaks down all of the concepts involved in debating specifically for kids! From how to write a great argument to examples of good speaking manner, we have a video on just about everything. We also have a ‘Speak to Inspire’ playlist that breaks down all the essential skills for students trying to improve their public speaking.

How to find the right course for your child

The course you choose for your child’s debating education will depend on a few different factors, such as their age, debating experience, and what you hope they will get out of the course.

If your child is new to debating, then it might be a good idea to start with one of our beginner courses. These courses are designed to give kids a solid foundation in debating so that they can learn all the basics. Once they have completed a beginner course, they can then move on to one of our more advanced courses.

On the other hand, if your child has some debating experience already, then they might be better suited to one of our intermediate or advanced courses. These courses build on the skills learned in a beginner course and help students hone their debating techniques.

Our courses cover multiple ability levels for students of all ages from Kindy to Year 10. There are many ways to get kids involved in debating. School holiday workshops are a great way for kids to get a taste of debating and see if it’s something they enjoy. These workshops are usually three days long and involve debating a variety of topics.

If you’re looking for a more long-term commitment, then our after-school programs might be a better option. These programs run for 8 – 10 weeks and cover all the basics of debating, from how to construct an argument to how to deliver a speech. By the end of the program, students will have honed their debating skills and will be ready to take on any challenge.

No matter what course you choose, your child will be sure to benefit from the experience. Debating is a great way for kids to learn essential life skills, such as critical thinking, communication, and public speaking. So what are you waiting for? Enrol your child in a debating course today!

One of the big goals that many students aspire to in both primary and high school is to become a part of the student leadership team. The opportunity to represent one’s peers in roles such as School Captain, Prefect or on the SRC is really exciting for young people who are interested in making a difference at their school.

Being involved in student leadership is a very worthwhile endeavour, not only for the students who are selected but also for the students who put themselves forward for the positions. The process can encourage kids to get involved with their peers, think deeply about what they want to see happen at their school and work on their public speaking skills.

Often, when students are interested in being a part of their student leadership team, they come to us to learn about how to be a more effective public speaker. Preparing for the speech you give to the rest of your school to get chosen as a leader can be a wonderful way to improve your chances of making a difference at school. In today’s blog, we’ll learn about what student leadership is, how to give a school captain speech (or election speech for any position), and more!

What is student leadership?

Many schools around Australia have student leadership programs which involve a variety of positions including:

• School Captain
• Prefect
• SRC Representative
• Sports House Captain

While the roles are selected differently at every school, one thing that many of these positions have in common is that they are elected by the student body. This process relies on students communicating effectively to their peers about what they would like to do if they were chosen for the role.

How do I get elected as a student leader?

There are a number of ways to improve your chances of being elected for student council. These include being actively involved at school and talking to your friends about what they would like to see changed at school. 

The most important thing, however, is to work on your communication skills so that you can get elected. Public speaking is a key responsibility of student leaders, especially school captains, who are required to speak at school assemblies and on special occasions such as presentation day or Anzac Day. Public speaking is also essential for getting chosen in the first place, as the candidates are usually required to present a speech to the school about why they want the role!

How can we help you to become a better public speaker?

We have seen time and time again that any student, no matter how shy they are when starting out, can become a great public speaker with practice. There are lots of ways you can be ready to impress your school when the time comes to give a student leadership speech:

1. Practice your public speaking beforehand

Get into the habit of public speaking, working on your eye contact and ‘speaking manner’. A great way to do this is to get feedback from someone like a coach or parent who can teach you tricks to improve your speaking skills. A big part of our ‘Presentation Skills’ programs is focusing on the purpose of public speaking and strategies for building a persuasive speaking matter. We also build in lots and lots of individualised feedback to help with your specific speaking habits.

2. Prepare a well-written speech

Make sure to follow a clear structure of introduction, body, and conclusion. Our public speaking courses also teach structures to apply to the introduction, the conclusion, and how to use PEEL and other techniques for amazing body paragraphs!

3. Remember to capture the audience’s attention

Even a well-structured speech can be boring! It’s important to learn some of the ways that we can draw an audience into our speech, such as using personal examples, interesting facts or weaving in a narrative to your speech.

4. Bring lots of energy!

Stand out by being nice and loud, energetic and full of fun hand gestures & facial expressions. Your classmates will love to watch an engaging speech!

The journey toward student leadership is hugely beneficial for students, even if they never get selected for the role. We love hearing back from our students about how they used what they learned at SSA to get chosen for school captain or prefect, but we also love hearing from students who had a fun time giving a speech in front of their school and having a go. 

Good luck to all the future student leaders working hard to become tomorrow’s well-rounded humans!

Top Tips to Boost Self-Esteem

So, how can you build confidence?

It’s simpler than you think.

You might wonder how you can become more self-assured in different situations.

In this article, you’ll find practical steps to boost your self-esteem, recognise signs of low confidence, and adopt daily habits that strengthen self-belief.

Let’s dive into building your confidence.

Key Takeaways

• Self-confidence can be developed through intentional actions and mindset shifts, positively impacting health, career, and relationships.
• Recognising signs of low self-confidence, such as negative self-talk and avoidance of new experiences, is crucial for addressing and improving self-esteem.
• Daily habits like celebrating small victories, practising positive self-talk, and prioritising self-care can significantly boost self-esteem and confidence.
• Developing self efficacy—your belief in your ability to succeed—plays a key role in building lasting confidence and achieving your goals.

Understanding Confidence

Self-confidence refers to the belief in yourself and your abilities. It’s about feeling comfortable in your own skin and trusting that you can handle whatever life throws at you. Confidence is not an innate trait; it can be developed and strengthened over time. Just as you can build muscle through exercise, you can build self-confidence through intentional actions and mindset shifts, fostering confidence and self-esteem.

A strong sense of self-confidence greatly enhances many aspects of life, such as health, career, and relationships. People with healthy self-esteem tend to perform better academically and professionally, form stronger personal connections, and experience greater overall happiness. Confidence can act as a powerful predictor of life outcomes, influencing everything from job satisfaction to relationship strength.

However, confidence can fluctuate depending on the situation. Feeling more confident in familiar areas and less so in new or difficult situations is natural. Viewing these fluctuations as opportunities to feel confident for growth rather than obstacles is key to enhancing your ability.

It’s important to recognise individual differences in how people experience and express confidence, as everyone has unique strengths and challenges.

Remember, even the most confident people tend to face moments of self-doubt, but they use these moments to reflect, learn, and grow in their lives.

Why Confidence Matters

Self-confidence encourages personal growth. This self-assurance positively impacts both your career and personal relationships. Believing in yourself makes you more likely to take risks, pursue opportunities, and achieve your goals. Confidence enhances self-assurance, improves decision-making, and fosters perseverance. It helps you view challenges as opportunities for growth rather than as obstacles.

Confident individuals experience easier decision-making and find excitement in facing new adventures. Because of their typically more decisive and problem-solving characteristics, they often achieve higher levels of academic and career success. Confident people celebrate their achievements and embrace new challenges.

Confidence is also linked to higher levels of well-being, including increased happiness and optimism. Confident children, for example, are better equipped to handle peer pressure, responsibilities, and emotional challenges, setting a strong foundation for their child’s confidence and future.

Recognising Low Self-Confidence

Experiencing low self-confidence can lead to various issues, including shyness, communication problems, and a general feeling of inadequacy. People who lack confidence often avoid new experiences due to fears of embarrassment or failure. This avoidance can create a cycle of negative thinking, where negative experiences perpetuate low self-esteem.

Low self-esteem often manifests as:

• A critical inner dialogue and an unwillingness to acknowledge strengths.
• Frequent comparison to others, particularly on social media, which can exacerbate feelings of low self-worth.
• A strong fear of failure and judgment leads individuals to shy away from social situations and challenges.

When low self-esteem persists over time, it can have a harmful effect on mental health and daily life. It’s associated with poorer mental health and a higher likelihood of engaging in harmful behaviours. Recognising these signs is the first step in breaking the cycle of low confidence and beginning the journey toward healthier self-esteem. One effective way to break this cycle is to replace negative thoughts with more positive and realistic ones.

How to Build Confidence from Scratch

Building confidence from scratch may seem daunting, but it’s entirely achievable with the right strategies. Confidence allows individuals to see challenges as opportunities for growth instead of obstacles. Factors that contribute to gaining confidence include developing self-confidence:

• Seeing yourself positively
• Challenging yourself
• Experiencing success
• Sticking to commitments boosts self-reliance and confidence.

Some effective strategies to build confidence include:

• Acting confident
• Reframing anxiety as excitement
• Visualising success
• Realising that failure is not the end of the world, which allows you to view mistakes as learning opportunities
• Aligning your choices with personal values to boost self-respect and enhance self-confidence.

Here are deeper insights into these strategies.

Act Confident

Have you ever heard the phrase, ‘fake it ‘til you make it’?

Acting confidently is crucial for enhancing self-esteem and overcoming anxiety. Neuroscience has uncovered that self-belief is more learnable than previously thought. Acting confidently, even when you don’t feel it initially, activates the brain’s success mechanisms. This creates a positive feedback loop where acting confident leads to successful outcomes, which in turn boosts your confidence.

A confident person is comfortable with themselves, takes risks, sets boundaries, accepts compliments graciously, and presents themselves authentically. They are decisive and secure in their self-presentation and behavior.

Acting confidently means taking action despite feeling anxious. For example, making eye contact, maintaining good posture, and speaking clearly can all portray confidence. These actions not only influence how others perceive you but also reinforce your own belief in your abilities. Over time, these behaviours become second nature, helping you feel more self-assured in various situations.

Confident people aren’t afraid to make a mistake. They see mistakes as part of the learning process and don’t let them undermine their self-worth. Model confidence shows both yourself and others that you’re capable of more than you thought.

Reframe Anxiety as Excitement

Viewing anxiety as excitement can improve performance in various tasks. When anxious about a new challenge, reframe those feelings as excitement about the opportunity to learn and grow. This shift in perspective can significantly change how you approach the situation.

Research shows that reframing anxiety as excitement can improve performance and confidence. Next time you feel butterflies in your stomach, remind yourself it’s your body’s way of preparing for something exciting. This mindset shift can make you feel more positive and confident, enabling you to tackle new challenges with enthusiasm rather than fear.

Visualise Success

Visualising successful outcomes reduces anxiety and improves actual performance. Visualising yourself succeeding activates neural circuits similar to those used when you experience real-life success. This mental rehearsal boosts confidence, making you feel more prepared and self-assured when facing challenges.

Visualisation reduces anxiety, enabling you to approach tasks with greater confidence. Regularly practising visualisation helps create a positive mental image of achieving your goals. This practice enhances performance and reinforces belief in your abilities.

Effective visualisation ultimately leads to better performance in real-life situations, allowing individuals to realise their full potential.

The Confidence Mindset

Developing a confidence mindset means cultivating a state of being where you feel self-assured and trust in your ability to handle whatever life throws your way. This mindset is closely tied to healthy self-esteem—when you believe in your own worth, you’re more likely to approach new challenges with optimism and resilience. Confident people celebrate not only their own achievements but also the successes of others, understanding that there’s room for everyone to shine.

A confidence mindset isn’t about never feeling fear or doubt; it’s about not letting those feelings hold you back. Confident individuals know that mistakes are simply a part of life and an opportunity to learn and grow. They use positive self-talk to encourage themselves, especially when stepping out of their comfort zone or facing something unfamiliar. By focusing on their abilities and strengths, they build self-confidence and become more self-assured over time.

Building this mindset takes practice and patience. Start by challenging negative thoughts and replacing them with positive affirmations. Surround yourself with supportive people who encourage you to take on new challenges and celebrate your progress. Remember, developing self-confidence is a journey—each step you take, no matter how small, helps you become more confident and improves your mental health. Embrace the process, and you’ll find yourself feeling more positive and ready to tackle whatever comes your way.

Daily Habits to Boost Your Self-Esteem

Solid self-esteem is crucial for building the confidence needed to face life’s challenges. Daily habits are vital in enhancing overall self-confidence. Recognising even small accomplishments can significantly boost self-esteem. Engaging in enjoyable activities fosters a strong sense of fulfilment and confidence.

Simple daily habits, like dressing in a way that makes you feel good or acknowledging your achievements, can offer a quick confidence boost.

Using positive resources, such as self-help materials, alleviates stress and reinforces confidence after challenging situations. Self-compassion encourages focusing on personal growth rather than seeking external validation.

Here are some daily habits that can help boost your self-esteem.

Practice Positive Self-Talk

Positive self-talk is a powerful tool for boosting self-esteem and confidence. Here are some ways to practice it:

• Be kind to yourself.
• Treat yourself with the same compassion you would offer a friend.
• Note and write down negative thoughts to identify patterns and replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations.

Starting your day with a positive statement about yourself sets a confident tone. Here are some practices to follow:

• Aim to list at least five positive things about yourself each day.
• Recall your strengths and successes when feeling envious of others.
• Use this practice to improve your mood.
• Increase your resilience during challenging situations.

Celebrate Small Victories

Celebrating small victories is a meaningful way to develop confidence. Acknowledging small wins creates a reinforcing cycle of confidence and motivation. Celebrating achievements creates a positive feedback loop that enhances self-esteem.

Consistently celebrate small victories to build confidence:

• Set personal goals and celebrate small achievements to foster pride.
• Reflect on where you started to help appreciate your progress.
• Acknowledge achievements to recognise your abilities and boost self-assurance.

By acknowledging your progress, you reinforce your belief that you can succeed, even in the face of challenges.

Set Realistic Goals

Setting achievable goals prevents discouragement and promotes a sense of accomplishment. Joining an exercise class or attending a social event can serve as achievable challenges. If a goal seems too lofty, adjust it to achieve goals that are more realistic and achievable.

Setting realistic goals helps you focus on steady progress instead of feeling overwhelmed. This approach builds confidence gradually and sustainably, leading to long-term success.

Building Confidence Through Relationships

Confidence improves interpersonal skills in several ways:

• It makes it easier to establish effective relationships. Having friends who uplift and encourage you is essential for building lasting confidence.
• It makes you more comfortable communicating and supporting others, strengthening connections.
• Helping others boosts your confidence, creating a cycle of mutual support and appreciation.

Modelling confidence in front of children can create a lasting positive effect on their self-esteem. Parents should make positive comments about themselves and others to promote confidence in their children. Recognising your worth helps develop self-confidence in relationships, ensuring you appreciate both your own and others’ value.

Here are some practical tips for building confidence through relationships.

Surround Yourself with Positive People

Surrounding yourself with positive people can uplift you and reduce self-doubt. Building relationships with positive individuals who appreciate you is crucial for boosting confidence. Your social circle significantly impacts your self-esteem, influencing your thoughts and attitudes about yourself.

If a ‘good’ friend makes you feel bad about yourself, reconsider that friend. Spend less time with individuals who bring you down or communicate your feelings directly to them. Positive interactions help recognise your own value and foster a healthier self-image.

Confident individuals are happy to celebrate other people’s success, which fosters a positive and supportive environment for everyone.

Surrounding children with positive people increases the likelihood of them becoming confident and positive.

Learn to Say ‘No’

Establishing boundaries is crucial for maintaining self-respect and personal well-being. Setting boundaries shows confidence in respecting personal limits and communicating them effectively. It’s okay to decline activities that affect your self-confidence negatively.

Learning to assertively decline requests prevents resentment and protects mental health. Practising saying no helps set boundaries for yourself. Observing and imitating assertive individuals can help you become more assertive.

Taking Care of Your Body and Mind

Taking care of both physical and mental health is crucial for building self-confidence. Key practices include:

• Prioritising self-care signals to yourself and others that you matter.
• Practising gratitude shifts your focus from negative experiences to positive accomplishments, aiding in anxiety management.
• Developing an anxiety management routine to promote better mental clarity after stressful events.

Self-confidence is linked to better stress management and mental well-being. Taking care of your body and mind equips you with resilience to handle life’s challenges.

Here are a few tips for practical self-care examples and strategies.

Prioritise Self-Care

Self-care is essential because it helps you feel good about yourself and your abilities. Adequate sleep, proper nutrition, and physical activity are crucial self-care components that enhance confidence. Physical activity, in particular, improves mood and energy levels, increasing confidence.

Feeling good physically improves mental well-being and self-perception. Focus on areas you appreciate to enhance your self-image. Wearing clothes that make you feel good about yourself can also positively influence your self-confidence and help you feel better. It simply feels good to take care of yourself.

Taking care of your body signifies to others that you matter. By prioritising self-care, you boost your self-worth and set a positive example for those around you. Prioritising self-care also helps you build your own confidence and encourages others to do the same by following your example.

Engage in Activities You Enjoy

Participating in hobbies and activities you excel at increases self-confidence and overall happiness! There is a moderate relationship between belief in personal strengths and life satisfaction, meaning that recognising your abilities can enhance your overall happiness, as it is a crucial part of life.

Engaging in activities you enjoy is essential for building self-confidence as it allows you to express and develop your strengths. Identifying and engaging in activities that bring you joy and highlight your strengths is crucial for your self-esteem development.

Spend time doing what you love, and you’ll find yourself feeling more positive and confident, which helps you feel positive.

Confidence and Self-Awareness

Confidence and self-awareness truly go hand in hand. Being self-aware means understanding your own strengths, weaknesses, and emotions, which is essential for building genuine self-confidence. When you know what you’re good at and where you have room to grow, you can approach difficult situations with a clear sense of your abilities and a willingness to learn.

Confident people aren’t afraid to admit when they’ve made a mistake—they see it as a chance to improve rather than a setback. This openness to learning is a key part of building confidence and self-assurance. By practicing positive self-talk and focusing on your achievements, you can boost your confidence and develop a more positive self-image. Recognising your progress, no matter how small, helps reinforce your belief in your own abilities.

Building confidence also means being honest with yourself about areas where you want to develop new skills. Instead of shying away from challenges, use them as opportunities to grow. Surrounding yourself with positive, supportive people can make a big difference, as they can help you see your strengths and encourage you during tough times.

Ultimately, confidence and self-awareness work together to help you navigate life’s challenges. By focusing on your strengths, learning from your mistakes, and practicing positive self-talk, you’ll find yourself feeling more confident, capable, and ready to take on whatever comes your way.

Overcoming Fear and Self-Doubt

Confidence fosters resilience, enabling individuals to adapt and recover from setbacks more effectively. Practising facing fears – such as public speaking – can enhance resilience and prepare you for future challenges. Healthy self-esteem enables individuals to approach setbacks as learning opportunities rather than personal failures.

Overcoming fear and self-doubt is essential for building lasting confidence. By confronting your fears and managing post-event anxiety, you can break free from the cycle of self-doubt. Let’s delve into these strategies in the following subsections.

Face Your Fears

Facing your fears head-on is an effective way to build confidence. Small victories through confronting fears help build more confidence. When facing fears, consider it an experiment to reduce pressure and improve resilience.

Don’t let feelings of nervousness or fear stop you from trying new things. By stepping out of your comfort zone, you show yourself that you’re capable of more than you thought. This process can lead to significant personal growth and increased self-assurance.

Remember, the goal is not to eliminate fear entirely but to manage it effectively. Each time you face a fear, you build a little more confidence, making it easier to tackle the next challenge.

Manage Post-Event Anxiety

Managing post-event anxiety is crucial to prevent overthinking and stress from impairing clear thinking. After facing a challenging situation, or something that just makes you nervous, like public speaking, take time to reflect on what went well and what you can improve. This practice helps you maintain a positive mindset and reduces the likelihood of dwelling on negative aspects.

By focusing on the positive outcomes and lessons learned, you can reframe your experience in a more constructive light. This approach not only enhances your confidence but also prepares you better for future challenges, fostering a growth-oriented mindset.

The Role of Self-Compassion

Self-compassion is treating yourself with kindness during mistakes or failures. It fosters emotional resilience by allowing individuals to treat themselves with kindness during setbacks. Being kind to yourself involves being gentle during self-criticism, which promotes emotional well-being.

Incorporating self-care practices can significantly enhance your mental health and self-worth. Self-care activities can help reduce stress and improve emotional well-being. Optimistic self-talk fosters self-compassion and helps overcome self-doubt.

We frequently offer better advice to others than we do to ourselves. This illustrates the need to stop comparing and for self-kindness.

Summary

In summary, building confidence is a journey that involves understanding what confidence is, why it matters, and how to recognise low self-confidence. Practical strategies such as acting confident, reframing anxiety as excitement, and visualising success can help you build confidence from scratch. Daily habits like practising positive self-talk, celebrating small victories, and setting realistic goals are essential for boosting self-esteem.

Relationships play a crucial role in building confidence, so surround yourself with positive people and learn to say no when necessary. Taking care of your body and mind through self-care and engaging in enjoyable activities can significantly enhance your self-worth. Finally, overcoming fear and self-doubt and practising self-compassion are vital for maintaining long-term confidence. Embrace these tips and watch your self-confidence soar.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is self-confidence?

Self-confidence is all about believing in yourself and trusting your abilities. When you feel comfortable in your own skin, it empowers you to tackle challenges and pursue your goals.

How can I recognise low self-confidence in myself?

If you find yourself feeling shy, struggling to communicate, or constantly doubting your abilities, those might be signs of low self-confidence. It’s important to acknowledge your strengths and give yourself credit!

What are some strategies to build confidence from scratch?

To build confidence from scratch, try acting confident, visualise your success, and reframe anxiety as excitement. These strategies can help you manage fears and cultivate a more confident mindset.

How can daily habits boost my self-esteem?

Incorporating daily habits like positive self-talk, celebrating small wins, and setting achievable goals can really uplift your self-esteem. The key is consistency – the more you practice, the better you’ll feel about yourself!

Why is self-compassion important for confidence?

Self-compassion is crucial for confidence because it encourages kindness towards ourselves during tough times, which builds emotional resilience and well-being. When we treat ourselves gently, we grow stronger and more confident in facing challenges.

Whilst the Australian schooling system is split between public, private, Catholic systemic and homeschooling, there is a unique subset of ‘selective schools’ which exist within the public system of most states.

Whilst most of these are located in New South Wales – there are 17 fully selective, 25 partially selective and four agricultural schools – you can also find similar selective schools in most other states.

Let’s dive into what makes these schools special, their entry requirements and how public speaking and debating can help give students an edge.

What are selective schools?

Whilst selective schools sit within the public education system, they are unique in many ways.

Firstly, all students must pass a special test to enter (more on this below), which means that almost everyone who attends these schools is a high achiever. By grouping students of similar academic abilities, they can push one another to improve continually, raising the academic achievements of everyone within the cohort. There is also evidence that grouping gifted students together can similarly be good for their emotional well-being.

Secondly, given the students can get through content faster than in comprehensive schools, this means that teachers can move through concepts at an accelerated rate. This not only means they get to more complex ideas earlier, but also helps students feel a greater level of satisfaction with their schooling.

Thirdly, they get the advantage of having more money to invest in education without the requisite school fees for parents. Whilst there aren’t any additional school fees, it’s been reported that selective schools obtain approximately $1.4 million more in voluntary donations than comprehensive schools – given these are government bodies, this money is then directly re-invested back into the students, helping build their education.

Finally, they simply get good academic results. Of the Top 10 schools that completed the NSW Higher School Certificate in 2022 – including all private schools in the state – six were selective schools. One particular school – James Ruse Agricultural College – topped the HSC Honours List for the 27th year in a row (yes, every year since the late 1990s). Many of those looking for great academic results can find them in the selective system.

Selective schools sound great – what’s the catch?

As with all great things, there is no such thing as a free lunch when it comes to selective schools.

Selective schools require special tests to enter. Whilst these vary from state to state, they generally involve elements of reading comprehension, mathematical reasoning, writing skills and critical thinking. Importantly, rather than assessing previous success, these tests are tailored towards assessing future ability – they are designed to ensure that the students entering selective schools are ready for the rigours ahead.

Given the unique opportunities these selective schools offer, it’s no surprise that many parents would love for their children to attend. That said, for the 2023 NSW selective school exam, over 15,000 applicants are vying for only 4,248 places (for comparison, there are around 60,000 students in each grade at public schools in NSW).

Given the stiff competition, it’s similarly unsurprising how much additional effort and investment parents are willing to undertake to help their child secure a spot.

Sounds hard – what’s on the selective schools test?

Whilst there are sections on comprehension, mathematics, and writing, the most significant single section in the NSW test (comprising 35% of the final grade) looks at ‘thinking skills’, whilst half of the Victorian test relates to ‘General Ability – Verbal, Quantitative and Writing’. We’ll use the phrase ‘critical thinking skills’ to refer to these concepts (to keep things simple).

Critical thinking skills are essential for success in life generally. Having the ability to think critically and objectively about any given situation is crucial for making informed decisions and taking appropriate action. Being able to evaluate information accurately, analyse different points of view, combine reason with intuition, spot inconsistencies, and question assumptions are all essential parts of critical thinking. This can allow us to effectively solve problems and make better decisions both in our personal life as well as in our professional lives. Having a sound approach to critical thinking can also help us delve deeper into a topic or issue that we may not be familiar with in order to gain a deeper understanding of it. Therefore, critical thinking is an invaluable skill that everyone should strive to develop and use throughout their lives.

So, pretty important. But what do these critical thinking skills questions look like in practice?

The NSW Department of Education has several practice questions on its website to help students identify the type of questions they might be asked – one example from their website is:

To become a successful architect, you need to be creative and also have excellent attention to detail.

Will: “Sally is creative – she loves drawing and painting – and always checks her written work carefully. She’s sure to become a great architect.”

Evie: “James enjoys writing stories and has a vivid imagination, but he struggles with detailed tasks. Architecture is probably not for him.”

If the information in the box is true, whose reasoning is correct?

This type of question (as well as many others within the test) looks at formal logic – but what’s the best way to develop these types of skills?

Winning the selective schools test with public speaking & debating

One way of improving critical thinking skills is to learn formal logic (although this is something that children find very difficult), whilst another is to sit lots and lots of practice tests (noting that these become repetitive over time).

However, there is another way to boost your child’s chances of success on a selective school test – developing public speaking and debating skills.

So how can this help?

Learning logic in a real-life setting

Through debating, students learn how to construct logical and persuasive arguments in three ways.

Firstly, it helps students come up with logical arguments in real time. To win debates, you need to understand what your team’s case is, work with others in your team to express it clearly and ensure that each of your points is logical. This is a creative process during prep, but something that must be done quickly given time constraints.

Secondly, students are also required to recognise logical flaws in their opposition’s arguments too.  This helps them develop a critical eye for logical inconsistencies under strict time constraints, an essential skill for selective skills tests.

Thirdly, students are required to defend the arguments made by others. When rebutting, it is never enough simply to attack the other team – you must also defend the points raised by your earlier speakers. By recognising where the other team has found logical flaws and patching them up, students develop an even stronger understanding of how to express themselves logically.

Quick thinking under pressure

Thinking quickly under pressure is another critical skill debating teaches students.

In a debate, students must think on their feet while responding to opponents – this requires quick thinking to ensure not only that they’re speaking coherently but also that what they are saying makes sense.

Moreover, when engaging with impromptu speeches, students are required to develop complex ideas without much (if any) preparation time before presenting them without having any opportunity to practice this particular speech.

Through practice, students are able to develop a sort of resilience in time-pressured situations such as examinations. In many ways, public speaking and debating are even more effective than practice papers – when presenting to an audience, there is always a level of pressure to perform (something that isn’t always true of lower-stakes practice papers).

Given this, regular public speaking and debating training can make a huge difference to a student’s ability to think quickly under pressure.

Developing creative ideas

Debating and public speaking are not just effective tools to develop confidence and communication skills, they also help students learn how to generate creative ideas.

Through debating, students have to think on their feet to come up with quick and convincing arguments. In doing so, they learn how to express themselves clearly while being able to think outside the box.

Public speaking similarly encourages students to expand their thoughts and be comfortable sharing them with others. As students build their speeches, they must develop innovative ways to capture and engage an audience which teaches them how to utilise diverse methods of communication.

Overall, debating and public speaking are invaluable tools for helping students develop creative ideas which can be applied in various settings – including (but not limited to) the written section of a selective schools examination.

Comprehending others

Debating and public speaking are invaluable skills that also help students comprehend others better.

Debating achieves this in two ways. Firstly, it forces students to predict and consider what they think their opponents will present in order to make their arguments more persuasive. Developing this understanding of alternative perspectives can really help students with comprehension more generally, as it requires them to consider the perspectives of others over a long period.

Secondly, and potentially more importantly, students need to listen to others in a debate before responding to them. Unlike in most educational settings, those arguments are often poorly expressed or tortuously thought through, making it very hard to respond. By practising using techniques like ‘Condensing Smoke’, students become experts in comprehension not only of well-expressed ideas, but also those which leave something to be desired.

Similarly, public speaking encourages ‘active listening’, where you not only listen to the words being said, but also consider the implications of it – an essential life skill. This skill allows students to engage with prompts and other students in a more genuine way creating authentic connections and arguments.

Finally, both debating and public speaking help students develop empathy for those with different opinions or backgrounds, so they can better understand where people are coming from and why they hold certain perspectives. With these skills, students will be better equipped to navigate conversations with respect, understanding, and appreciation for others’ points-of-view – skills that definitely put them in a strong position for the comprehension section in a selective schools test.

Learning about the world

Debating and public speaking are powerful tools that allow people to gain a deeper understanding of the world.

This is very natural in debating. By engaging in dialogue with others and considering different perspectives, students gain an appreciation of issues from all angles. Moreover, to improve their success rate in debates more generally, students are required to keep abreast of what’s actually happening in the world through their own personal research – there is nothing worse than being allocated a topic that you don’t know anything about!

Public speaking allows individuals to effectively communicate their own ideas and beliefs, while gaining insight into the thoughts and values of those around them. In order to develop effective speeches, students need to think through their ideas and check them against their own research and the perspectives of others.

Through these activities, people learn how to constructively engage with opposing opinions, develop empathy for other points of view, and build bridges between cultures.

Debating and public speaking are invaluable skills that give people the opportunity to explore our interconnected global society in a meaningful way – something that would help anyone seeking to undertake the selective schools test.

What About the Other Sections?

Whilst critical thinking skills represents the largest section of the test, public speaking and debating skills can also be helpful in other sections too!

Whether it is learning how to express yourself persuasively (which can be adapted from verbal to written expression), understanding a long-winded point during a debate (so you can prepare a rebuttal) or simply having the self-confidence to step through your logic on a maths problem, learning public speaking and debating can make a big difference to how students feel going into the test.

How can Speaking Schools Australasia help?

In conclusion, developing strong debating and public speaking abilities is essential for anyone undertaking the selective schools test.

With the right tools and guidance, as well as a fair bit of work over time, students can build these skills to really give themselves an edge in the selective schools test.

Fortunately, Speaking Schools Australasia offers an array of services specifically designed to give students the best chance at success on their journey towards top educational institutions.

Check out our programs to learn more about how we can help!

The Art of Competition

What do you feel when you hear the word ‘competition’? Do you feel anxious, excited, motivated, fearful, energised or simply sheer terror? Do you feel a surge of motivation pump through your veins? Are you uncomfortable?

We all feel differently when we are faced with competition, or about to charter into ‘competition territory’, for a number of reasons – mostly stemming from our self-worth, potentially positive or negative past experiences, and whether the motivation to win is intrinsic or extrinsic – to name a few.

Competitions have been around for millennia. Think back to the Ancient Greeks – they loved their competitions and kicked off this passion by hosting the very first Olympic Games dating back to 776 BCE! The desire to compete and win, to reap rewards, celebrate, bathe in glory and victory, as well as be humbled and learn from losses – these are a fundamental part of human existence. Although coming out with a loss as opposed to victory may not always be received well, when any form of competition is approached with a positive and healthy mindset, it can be a highly effective tool for growth, evolution, and ultimately a pathway to building and bolstering one’s resilience.

Being competitive can be frowned upon by many, including ourselves. We may have negative associations with someone who is competitive or feel a surge of shame take over when we feel competitive, especially when we are around peers we have bonded with. The other problem is we often associate negative character traits with competitive people that are often antisocial and not ideal. Competitive people may be perceived to be ruthless, selfish, self-serving and all about short-term rewards. However, is this really the case? Are we potentially confusing healthy competition with hyper-competitiveness?

If we really think about it, life itself is full of competitions and whether we like it or not, we are inevitably part of competitions – not only against others but also against ourselves.  So, we need to try and embrace it, reframe our perspective around competition and being competitive, and explore the benefits it can bring. That is not to say ultra-competitiveness can be detrimental and toxic, but it is more about approaching competitiveness from a balanced and healthy angle. So we thought we’d help kick off that process by putting together a list of benefits on the art of competition and giving yourself(and our children ) permission to be competitive!  Check out our list below:

It can help you manage your emotions better

Entering competitions – whether a short running race, fighting over the TV remote, playing a game of chess or entering a state-wide or national competition – is an opportunity to get to know yourself better, manage your emotions and learn how to work under pressure.

Before the competition starts, you should identify, sit with and work through the feelings you are experiencing in order for you to compete successfully.

Channelling that nervous energy or competition high (or alternatively processing the low) can all be wonderful tools for becoming more emotionally intelligent and resilient.

It is an excellent opportunity to test yourself

Many of us do several courses, classes, attend training, get private lessons – but despite this, we often never really have a way to test ourselves and genuinely see how far we come.

Entering a competition can be one way to help you identify and track your progress, as well as highlight areas that need further improvement.

Becoming aware of our progress (or lack thereof) can help boost motivation to keep going, try harder, consider new strategies and continue to blossom!

It can help deliver a dose of confidence and resilience

Getting yourself to step outside your comfort zone can be painfully hard and terrifying! It is by no means easy, but being a passive bystander in life can be just as hard and painful too!

By getting up and competing, you are sending a clear message to yourself and those around you: you believe in your abilities, skills and ability to recover no matter what! How empowering and incredibly brave is that?

So if you find someone you care about (or yourself) shying away from competition, remind them (or yourself) that by simply stepping up to the plate, they give themselves a healthy dose of self-love, respect and resilience. It is also simply a wonderful experience which the outcome can not negate!

You can make new friends

Whenever you find yourself signing up for a competition, you inevitably meet new people who are passionate about the same things as you – what a great way to build a new friendship! They do not have to only have to be one of your competitors, they can also become your new mate and part of your support network!

Not only have you pushed yourself out of your comfort zone, but have acquired new friends – how good is that?!

Winning feels awesome

Ok, let’s be honest – we all like to win! The buzz of winning can electrifying. Think about all the hard work you’ve put in, the time you have sacrificed, the torture you have subjected family and friends to along the way, the nervous energy, the adrenaline, the practice runs and now boom – you’ve walked away with the victory and the external gratification that comes along with that! There is no greater feeling than having your efforts and hard work appreciated, acknowledge and celebrated!

It feels incredible and fuels you to keep going and growing!

Embracing Competitiveness

There are plenty more benefits to list and explore here, but we thought we’d leave you with our top five. Ultimately, any competition is about you taking your power back, harnessing your nervous energy to do great things, and injecting yourself with healthy doses of self-love and confidence, but ultimately it teaches you to be resilient and rise up, again and again, no matter what.

In the wise words of the great and beloved Madiba:

“Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”

So now it is time to get up, again and again, and remember every time you do, you have already won. You are a more victorious and stronger version of your previous self!

When we spend lots of time working on our debating and public speaking skills, it can be easy to get bogged down in the details and lose sight of the original purpose of these activities. Ultimately, the reason we engage with debating and public speaking in the first place is to persuade our audience to see our way of thinking.

Sometimes you might notice yourself giving a robotic delivery of your speech because you have practiced it so many times in front of your parents it feels almost automatic. Other times, you might find yourself expecting people to understand what you mean without realising that they might have a really different opinion on the issue you are speaking about than you do!

One of the most exciting skills you can develop through debating or public speaking is learning how to persuade the audience to see your point of view and how to influence their way of thinking on a topic.

This blog post will talk about strategies that you can use to regain your focus on persuading and influencing the audience through a variety of speech writing and speech presentation tips.

Tip #1: Empathise With Your Audience

One of the biggest barriers to persuasion can be a lack of empathy for the listener. Often as debaters and public speakers we can get a little bit caught up in our own heads, especially if we are really stressed about doing well at presenting a speech or having enough ideas to say during the debate. We can often forget to think about anyone other than the other team or the other people competing in the public speaking competition. We can forget that it is equally (if not more) important to think about the audience! We need to cater to their needs and attempt to understand what it’s like from their point of view.

When giving a speech, presentation, or argument in a debate, try to remember that:

Remember the audience is less familiar with the topic than you.

One general truth about the audience (and the adjudicators or judges) is that they are generally less familiar with the topic you are speaking about than you are. This is true in a couple of different ways.

Public Speaking

If you’re talking about public speaking then it’s highly likely that the audience and adjudicator haven’t done as much research into your topic area as you have. For example, imagine you are giving a speech about Global Warming. While you might know all of the context and all of the information that there is to know about climate change and global warming, it might be equally true that somebody in your audience doesn’t have much knowledge on this topic area at all! They might not even know the most common things that are going on in the news around this topic. When you walk into the room with a lack of empathy for your audience, you might be thinking about the presentation from your point of view: you know all of this information to the point where some of it is even boring to you! So, it’s really important to take the step of having some empathy for your audience.

How to build empathy for the audience and give a more convincing speech

Try saying to yourself: “Imagine if I was hearing my speech for the first time and it was the only thing I had ever heard on this topic area.” Then, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Would I be confused?
2. Would I be inspired or motivated?
3. Is it necessarily true that I would naturally care about this issue?
4. Do I need the speaker to convince me that I care about this issue?

Taking a second to ask yourself these questions and imagining how you would respond as an audience member or an adjudicator can help to build your empathy and make you more aware of their needs during your presentation. This will make you naturally more persuasive to them!

Debating

Another example is during debating. In debating, we often receive a topic and have one hour or so to prepare. Then we go into the room to participate in the debate. As a debater, from your point of view, you have been thinking about the topic of this debate for at least one hour (and it’s probably the only thing you’ve been thinking about for one hour). However, is this necessarily true of your adjudicator or your audience? In a lot of circumstances, the audience members might show up to a debate and not even know what the topic is going to be! They may just be interested in being there to see you speak even though they don’t really know what you’re going to be speaking about.

Even your adjudicator might not know what the topic is before they get into the debate room. In debating competitions there is often a topic selection. Your adjudicator will need the debaters to confirm specifically what topic they will be speaking about. That usually happens about one minute before the first speaker gets up to talk. That means that the adjudicator hasn’t been lost in the world of this topic for an hour as you have. They might have just been thinking about what they want to have for lunch that day or having a conversation with one of their friends about their job! So to get started in your speech, you can’t just launch into the deepest part of the topic area without explaining why people should care about it or its importance to the audience.

How to build empathy for the audience and give a more convincing argument

Luckily there are a few simple things you can do to alleviate this empathy gap.

1. Clearly state the topic within your speech
2. Make sure to define any confusing words with multiple meanings within the topic
3. Offer some points of context that allude to the key issue of this debate
4. Use the linking step of ‘PEEL’ to clearly link back to the topic at the end of each argument so people know why your argument is relevant.
5. Remind yourself when you get to the debate that not everybody knows this is what we’re talking about tonight. Not everybody has been thinking about this as much as I have!
6. Ask yourself: “What can I do to make this speech more clear and interesting for the people who are listening?”

Tip #2: Assume the audience does not believe you

This tip is about ethos, which is a way of convincing an audience that you are credible and trustworthy. In order to have ethos, there are three things you need to do:

First, you need to establish your credibility. You need to remind the audience of your experience or expertise on this topic. This can be done by sharing a personal story or using statistics and data.

Second, you need to show that you care about the issue at hand. This can be done by sharing your passion for the topic or by highlighting how it has affected you or others in a positive way.

Third, you need to build trust with the audience. This can be done by being transparent about your intentions and by admitting when you don’t have all the answers.

When it comes to ethos, there is one common mistake that people make: they assume that the audience already believes them. This is a mistake because it leads to people being complacent in their speeches and not working hard enough to establish their credibility, show that they care, or build trust.

The best way to avoid this mistake is to assume that the audience does not believe you. This may seem counterintuitive, but it will actually make you work harder to establish your credibility, show that you care, and build trust. And in the end, this will make your speech more effective.

Tip #3: Use concrete language

When it comes to persuasion, one of the most important things you can do is use concrete language. Concrete language is specific and vivid. For example, an example is a form of concrete language, when you explain how something has happened in the real world. This helps the audience visualise what you’re talking about. And when people can visualise what you’re talking about, they’re more likely to be persuaded by your argument.

There are two common mistakes people make when it comes to using concrete language. First, they use too much abstract language. Abstract language is general and vague. It doesn’t help the audience visualise what you’re talking about. For example, in a speech about climate change you might say, “It helps to take action.” This is very abstract – what kind of action? What does it help? Second, they use too much jargon. Jargon is technical language that is only understood by people in a particular field or profession, such as terms like ‘carbon neutral’, ‘mitigation’, and ‘tipping point’ which are used by climate change experts. Using jargon in your speech will only make it harder for the audience to understand and follow your argument.

The best way to avoid these mistakes is to use concrete language. When you use concrete language, be specific and use vivid verbs and adjectives. And when you use jargon, make sure to explain it in simple terms so that everyone in the audience can understand.

Tip #4: Use emotion

Emotion is a powerful tool that can be used to persuasively argue your position. When you tap into emotions, you’re more likely to get people to agree with you. And when people agree with you, they’re more likely to take action on your behalf.

There are two common mistakes people make when it comes to using emotion in their speeches. First, they use too much emotion. This can make people feel overwhelmed and turned off by your argument. Second, they use the wrong emotions. This can happen when you try to evoke an emotional response that is not appropriate for the situation or when you try to tap into emotions that are not relevant to the issue at hand.

The best way to avoid these mistakes is to use emotion strategically. Only use as much emotion as necessary to get your point across. And be careful to only use emotions that are appropriate for the situation and that are relevant to the issue at hand.

If you follow these tips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a more persuasive speaker.  Just remember to be clear, have empathy, and use emotion strategically. Do this, and you’ll be able to persuasively argue your position and get people to take action on your behalf, which is the whole point of delivering a speech, a presentation, or an argument.

Being a kid is getting harder.

Think back just a decade ago.  Facebook was a fledgling service (Snapchat and Instagram didn’t even exist), students felt less stressed about exams, no one really knew what the word ‘pandemic’ could entail and people were confident that the world would still need lawyers when someone finished high school.

How the world has changed.  Social media pervades every area of modern life, academic stress is at all-time highs, we’re all extremely aware of the impacts of a real pandemic and around 40% of existing jobs are likely to be automated by 2030.  And things are only set to become harder for our kids.

What can parents do to ensure the best possible future for their children?

The Four C’s for 21^st Century Education

As the world becomes more automated, traditional service skills like reviewing documents, accounting and even computer coding will increasingly become the domain of algorithms.

It is therefore important that people, and in particular children, learn the important skills that will set them apart from increasingly clever computers.  First proposed by the National Education Association in the US, the Four C’s for 21^st Century Education represent the four most important skills students should walk away with after their formative years to ensure resilience in an everchanging world.

Those skills are:

1. Critical thinking, which refers to using logic and reasoning to solve problems and make decisions;
2. Creativity, which requires children to be able to think outside of the box;
3. Collaboration, which involves working with others to reach common goals; and
4. Communication, which relates to how students are able to express themselves (and listen) to other people.

Increasing Intergenerational Resilience

There are a number of ways that parents can help make their children more resilient to the uncertainties of the future.

First, parents can make sure they invest in their child’s education.  This doesn’t just mean financially – it is important to invest time as well. Making an effort and taking an interest makes students better collaborators and communicators – just make sure to show them how to use the fishing rod rather than handing them the fish.  This ensures they develop critical thinking skills as well.

Second, parents can challenge their children.  Not in an aggressive or oppositional way – this can be quite harmful to their confidence.  Instead, you should challenge them to back up their opinions, and help them develop into the type of person who can craft a persuasive argument.  This can help develop their critical thinking, creativity and communication skills, and can be done anywhere from the classroom to the dinner table.

Third, you should encourage them to take part in activities that will help bolster these skills.  Things like public speaking, and especially debating, are excellent for helping students develop all of these skills – students have to be collaborative when developing a team case, creative when devising arguments, logical when preparing what they’re going to say and persuasive in their delivery.

Whilst we may not be able to predict what the future holds, there are a few certainties – the world is going to change, employment is going to change, and traditional knowledge is not going to be enough to keep up.  Helping our kids think critically, think creatively, collaborate with one another and communicate effectively is definitely a step in the right direction.

How we can help

Public speaking and debating encourage students to communicate their ideas in a persuasive manner, think critically about the world, and collaborate with others to develop creative points.  Take a peek at our programs to see how our weekly term programs and intensive holiday programs can help improve your child’s resilience.

Everyone has that little voice in their head, something we often call an inner monologue, narrating our life.  Maybe it doesn’t sound like Morgan Freeman, but it is always there – an ever-present commentator who knows our innermost thoughts and feelings.

This can be exceptionally useful – our inner monologue can help us find coherence within our thoughts, bounce ideas without fear of embarrassment and entertain ourselves when our phones run out of battery.

But our inner monologues can also be debilitating.  They are generally the primary drivers of our own anxieties, and often tend to question our choices:

What if I fail?

What if people hate my idea?

What if everyone laughs at me?

It is up to us to answer these types of ‘what if’ questions.  If we take a negative approach – believe that failure is the end, that everyone will hate the idea and laugh at the concept of you speaking up – then we have already lost.  What is the point of trying when things look so pessimistic? We make excuses, and put in less effort – at least then we’ll be able to absolve ourselves of blame if (and in our minds when) things don’t pan out.

Thankfully, many people don’t think this way. When asked such questions – by either their inner monologue or other people – many answer positively, and present an optimistic view of the world.  ‘Maybe I will fail, but that’s okay, I’ll just give it another shot’.  Or ‘maybe people will hate the idea and have a good laugh, but that doesn’t matter, I believe in it’.

This perspective is what confidence looks like.  An unshakeable belief in one’s own abilities, and the knowledge that whatever happens we will still succeed. It’s an optimistic take that we can handle whatever the world throws at us.

Confident people are generally less anxious about their place in the world, show much greater motivation to succeed and more resilience when things go wrong, and often have stronger relationships. They also aren’t necessary extroverted – plenty of people are quietly self-assured of their capabilities without outwardly expressing it to the world at large.

But what makes a confident person?  It is widely accepted in modern psychology that whilst confidence is partially innate, at least half (and likely more) of an individual’s confidence is the result of how they are raised. No one is truly born confident – although some are more likely to grow up self-assured than others, there is plenty we can do to push the process along.

We’ve pulled together a few easy steps parents can take to help their children develop into more confident adults – check out our blogs on encouragement and failure to learn more!

How we can help

Taming our inner monologues can be hard, but we know which tools work – check out our programs to learn more about how our public speaking and debating programs can help kids change the narrative and build self-confidence.