Why Public Speaking Is Important
Okay, we’ll admit that we’re a little biased here, but we think that public speaking is one of the most important skills that it’s possible for a person to learn, especially when it comes to the workplace.
And there are a lot of reasons for that, from the fact that it presents you as a thought leader, to the way that it helps you to quickly convey important information. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves because that’s what the rest of this article is all about.
And so without further ado, let’s take a look at a few of the reasons why public speaking is so important.
It gives you self-confidence
One of the most welcome side-effects of public speaking is that it boosts your self-confidence. This is good news for pretty much everyone, but it can be particularly advantageous for introverts or for people who have low self-confidence. True, such people may find it harder to actually get up on stage and speak to people to begin with, but once they’re up there and they learn that they can do it, they feel a lot better about themselves.
It’s an important skill in the workplace
Many people will find that they need to speak publicly as part of their job at some point. Even for those in roles like engineers or web developers, where people typically spend a lot of their time alone or working in a small team, there will be times when they’ll need to explain how a system works to a larger group of people. That’s how getting comfortable with public speaking can help you to advance your career.
It helps you present yourself as a thought leader
A common reason why people turn to public speaking is that they want to present themselves as a thought leader in their industry. Getting up on stage and sharing the lessons that you’ve learned can help show that you know what you’re talking about and that you’re at the forefront of your field. This is especially true if you’re speaking at high profile events, because much of the authority of the event you speak at passes on to you.
It forces you to learn
Being a public speaker forces you to learn the latest trends and best practices. You’ll often find yourself being asked questions by people as part of Q&As, or even just during networking after an event. The only way to prepare yourself for this is to go out of your way to constantly learn as much as you can about the field you work in.
It gives you an advantage
Not everyone is willing or able to carry out public speaking engagements. In fact, it’s said that the fear of public speaking is the world’s most common phobia, affecting over three quarters of people. It’s perfectly natural to feel a little fear before you take to the stage, but if you can overcome that and get the job done anyway, you’ll be taking advantage of the gap that’s left by other people not having the courage or the skills to talk to people.
It helps you quickly convey large amounts of information
In the world of business, we’re often faced with time pressure and a need to convey a large amount of information in a short amount of time. Public speaking can help us out with that, because that’s exactly what we’re being asked to do when we take to the stage. As with most things, practice makes perfect, and so the more time we spend delivering public speeches, the more we’re going to be able to rapidly share information in other situations.
It can persuade other people to see things your way
Public speaking is often about winning people over and encouraging them to see the world in the way that you do. That’s especially true for people like politicians, but we can witness the same benefits in the world of business. For example, let’s say that you take a controversial stance on a piece of new technology. By talking about it publicly, you encourage others to adopt the same viewpoint. You can also attract new partners and clients who agree with you.
It can motivate people
Public speakers can be entertaining, informative and motivational. In fact, many of the best public speakers offer a mixture of all three. If you’re able to motivate people through your public speeches, you can boost performance at your company and make a positive difference in the world. You might be surprised at just how inspiring a public speaker can be!
It can grow your professional network
One of the biggest benefits of public speaking is that it provides you with a great way to meet new people and to grow your professional network. From the people that you’re speaking alongside, to the event organizers and the people in the audience, you’ll be exposed to a huge number of new people and will be able to dramatically grow your professional network as a result.
It’s fun!
Public speaking is challenging, but it can also be a lot of fun. It’s a bit like running a marathon or learning to speak a foreign language, in that just because it’s difficult, you shouldn’t let that put you off. When you deliver a good speech and hear positive feedback from the audience, it gives you a nice little serotonin boost and leaves you content with the feeling of a job well done. And with experience, you can really enjoy yourself when you’re up on stage!
Conclusion
Now that you know a few of our thoughts on why public speaking is so important, we want to hear from you. Why do you think public speaking is important? Or perhaps you think that it isn’t, and that we’ve got it all wrong!
As always, we’d love to keep the discussion going in the comments, so be sure to let us know your thoughts on why public speaking is so important. You can also follow us on your favorite social networking sites for more. We’ll see you soon!
