Publish at July 30 2025 Updated July 30 2025
Satisfaction is a feeling we have after accomplishing or realizing an action or satisfying a need. Spinoza considers that "Inner satisfaction is in truth the greatest thing we can hope for."
What is this satisfaction based on? Would all individuals have similar needs or goals, so as to elicit similar satisfactions? If not, what are the different elements that make individuals satisfied?
Answering the previous question in the negative, I believe that satisfaction is intrinsically linked to each individual and his or her projects. So as not to be a generalist, I'm going to focus solely on satisfaction with speakers. What would make a speaker satisfied?
Dear Mr. Fomekong,
The year is coming to an end! It went by so quickly! I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU:
See you soon. Maybe on stage, when I'm speaking in front of 300 people!
Hermione, your student
I received this note at the end of the 2025-2026 school year from one of my students. In fact, as part of my collaboration with the Académie de Créteil in France, I'm introducing very young children to public speaking and debate. It's a project that's taking shape and is increasingly appreciated by colleagues and the inspectorate. During these events, I play the role of a teacher, but above all a speaker whose performance is intended to serve as an example. A
Although I'm not a speaker, I do play the role of a speaker, of a teacher who finds satisfaction in the testimonies of his learners. It's not the only testimonial I've received in public speaking workshops, but it's one of the most recent. A public speaker is essentially a transmitter of knowledge. Seen from this angle, he can only be happy when he realizes that he has been able to bring something new to his learners. Recognition from managers and colleagues is an additional motivating factor. It's a satisfaction that depends on results.
A speaker's greatest fear is not being able to satisfy the audience with his or her speech and eloquence. The direct corollary of this fear is stress. When a speaker takes the floor, he must systematically manage the first minute. After that, it's likely that the beginning of his speech will be marred by irregularities that will rub off on the rest of his performance.
According to an American study, 75% of people consider public speaking to be the greatest fear of adults, ahead of failure or death".(Central test). As soon as, through activities such as proper diagnosis (because stress has different causes depending on the individual), through the various techniques for overcoming stress, you manage to overcome your stress, you become a satisfied speaker. It's a satisfaction that, to be sustainable, has to be built up on a daily basis. This stress is also reduced by good preparation.
"What is well conceived is clearly stated, And the words to say it come easily", says Boileau in L'Art d'écrire un Poème. Public speaking can be improvised, but in most cases, it's prepared. Like a poem, it must be well thought out. Between the different parts of the speech (Exorde, Narration, Peroraison), the different stages of realization (Invention, Dispositio, Elocutio, Actio and Memoria) there are choices to be made. The outcome of this choice and the approval of your arguments or ideas bring a "phew" of relief. If you don't prepare, you run the risk of failing or feeding the speaker's monster, the audience's fear.
Beyond the satisfaction intrinsic to the speaker, that of simply speaking in public, let's say self-satisfaction, there is above all a satisfaction in him or her (speaker) that depends more on the audience. And it's only achieved when the testimonials beyond the audience's positive reaction are complimentary.
These testimonials and the resulting satisfaction are only the culmination of a series of operations with their own success factors, notably the fight against stress and the effective preparation of the speech. After all, a well-prepared speaker is like a well-prepared teacher, who can't help but be satisfied.
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