How That Conversation with a Stranger at the Train Station Improved Your Public Speaking Skills

It started with a glance and a comment about the weather.

You were waiting for a train. In your mind, there were to-do lists and unread emails. The person beside you—someone you’ll never see again—said something about the unpredictable rain. You smiled, nodded, and replied. Ten minutes later, you were in a full-blown conversation, talking about your work, their travel plans, and the best coffee in town. You spoke with clarity, responded thoughtfully, and listened intently. You walked away feeling oddly refreshed, maybe even a little proud.

What just happened? You practiced public speaking—and you didn’t even realize it.

Why Public Speaking Is More Than a Podium and a PowerPoint

When people hear the words public speaking, they think of conference rooms, podiums, TED Talks, or corporate presentations. It feels formal, distant—maybe even irrelevant to their daily lives. But public speaking isn’t about a microphone and a spotlight. It’s about connection. It’s about having the confidence to express your thoughts clearly and the empathy to read the room, even if “the room” is just a train platform.

That spontaneous conversation with a stranger? It involved important public speaking skills:

• Clarity of thought – You had to organize your ideas in real-time.

• Listening and adapting – You responded to verbal and non-verbal cues.

• Confidence – You spoke up, knowing nothing about the person you were talking to.

• Engagement – You told stories, used tone and gestures, and held someone’s attention.

And you did it all naturally.

The Myth of Irrelevance

Many people believe public speaking is only for executives or extroverts. Others avoid it because they associate it with fear or judgment. But in truth, it’s a life skill—one that affects how we interview for jobs, explain our ideas, advocate for ourselves, or even navigate conflicts.

Public speaking isn’t irrelevant. It’s everywhere – the job interview where you have two minutes to impress; the wedding toast; the Zoom call; the chance to stand up for someone. The conversation that makes someone feel seen.

The Small Moments Matter Most

You don’t have to wait for a big stage to get better at public speaking. You improve every time you speak with intention and awareness. A conversation with a stranger at the train station is practice. So is answering a question in class, pitching an idea at work, or even leaving a voicemail. The stakes may be low, but the benefits are high.

When you embrace these micro-opportunities, something shifts. You begin to articulate yourself with more ease. Then, you notice how people respond to your tone or pacing. You become a better listener, and paradoxically, a better speaker.

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Small Conversations

That chance encounter at the train station didn’t just pass the time—it strengthened a muscle. Public speaking isn’t about formality, it’s about presence. And you get better at it every time you connect with another person—stranger or not.

So next time you’re waiting somewhere—on a train platform, in a coffee line, at the gate before a flight—strike up a conversation. You might just be giving yourself one of the best public speaking lessons you’ll ever get.