Perhaps you’ll never have to give a major speech to an audience of thousands, but you may be called upon to give a wedding toast, a eulogy, or lead a presentation to a board of directors. Public speaking is a skill that is highly valued in many areas of life, from personal relationships to professional success. Despite its importance, however, many people are afraid of public speaking or simply avoid it altogether. But why is public speaking so important? In this blog post, we will explore the many reasons why public speaking is a valuable skill to have and why it is worth overcoming any fears or obstacles to become a confident and effective public speaker. Whether you are a student, a professional, or simply someone who wants to improve their communication skills, understanding the importance of public speaking can help you achieve your goals and succeed in your personal and professional life. So let’s dive in and discover why public speaking is so important.
Why Is Public Speaking Important?
At some point in your life, you will need to speak in public. Whether you are going for a job interview or just trying to make conversation with a group of new acquaintances, public speaking skills will serve you well. Therefore, if you’re not confident in your abilities, we believe it’s a good time to brush up on your skills. You’ll find that it has several benefits.
15 Things to Consider: The Importance of Public Speaking
1. Public Speaking Helps You Gain Self-Confidence
By honing your communication skills, you’re not only making yourself more confident, but you can better perceive the thoughts and actions of others. As a result, you will appear assertive, poised, and self-assured.
2. Public Speaking Can Put You at Ease Around Other People
You know those awkward pauses—perhaps you’ve just met someone at a party and after exchanging pleasantries, you find the conversation has reached a standstill and an awkward silence. Public speaking will help you eliminate these pauses and enable you to continue the conversation. Who knows? Perhaps it can even help you meet a new friend or love interest.
3. Public Speaking Can Help You on a Job Interview
If you’re looking for an answer to why is public speaking important, look no further than the HR office. It’s a competitive job market. It’s vital to present yourself in a professional, confident manner. Those with polished public speaking skills land higher-paying jobs and gain the trust of those who work with them and for them.
4. Public Speaking Can Enhance Your Bottom Line
Why is public speaking important? Because it can impact your paycheck! Those who are gifted in sales must have accomplished public speaking skills that enable them to “seal the deal” that leads to greater profits. Even having confidence in the boardroom can put you at the front of the line for better promotions and pay raises.
5. Public Speaking Enables You to Make a Difference
There’s a reason that many famous leaders were good public speakers. The ability to inspire and transform others has led to many historic moments. Who can forget Winston Churchill’s inspirational statements and the eloquent phrasing from some of America’s great presidents? Public speaking can mobilize people to work toward making a positive difference in the lives of others. We found this one of the most intriguing answers when we asked why is public speaking important in life.
6. Public Speaking Gives You a Chance to Showcase Your Knowledge
Why is public speaking important? Because it is how we learn! You may have a wealth of information and knowledge at your fingertips, but unless you share this with others, no one will realize how valuable your contribution can be. Even worse, this can cause others to undervalue your importance to an organization.
If you aren’t ready to explain your importance and knowledge of a subject, you could be passed over for promotions. In the worst-case scenario, you may be subject to a layoff if you don’t communicate your value to your company. Public speaking also enables you to learn more and add to your knowledge base. Aren’t all great teachers also good public speakers?
7. Public Speaking Helps You Attract Like-Minded People
There are other people who share your interests, your goals, and your passions. But if you don’t speak up, how will they know that you have anything in common? We found that one of the most important answers to why is public speaking important was that it enables you to form a cohesive group that can work together toward common interests. Whether this means reaching a corporate goal or sales quota or maybe just forming a social athletic league, surrounding yourself with those who share your interests will enhance your life.
8. Public Speaking Enables You to Persuade People
Imagine this: You are a public relations professional. One of your clients wants to have information from a press release printed in a local news outlet. There is one thing standing between you and your goal: the editor. You have to convince the editor that your piece is newsworthy and is something he or she would like to publish.
In this case, public speaking is very valuable. Not only can it help you persuade the editor, but it can also help you hone your communication skills to ensure that your message is precise, succinct, and relevant.
9. Public Speaking Motivates People Around a Single Goal
Perhaps your company has acquired new software—this is the easy part. The difficult task is teaching the software to the employees and relaying the information promptly. It’s also important to rally and inspire the group because you are all working toward a common goal. People will rally around a supportive, confident public speaker because they believe the speaker knows what is in the best interest of the group. Just be sure to have the information you need to answer any questions.
10. Public Speaking Will Make You a Better Listener
This was something that surprised us when we were looking for answers to the question why is public speaking important: When you carefully plan what you will say and how you will get your message across, you notice how others communicate. Attending a conference and listening to other speakers while taking notes can passively build your ability to be a good listener.
11. Public Speaking Skills Will Help You Master the Art of Debate
There will come a time when you will have to support your viewpoint. Chances are, not everyone will agree with you, and some may be enthusiastically opposed to your opinion. A good public speaker does not get emotional and start on a rant. Instead, good public speaking skills teach you to develop and present a clear and well-thought argument. Even if someone still disagrees with what you say, they will respect how you expressed your opinion.
12. Public Speaking Teaches You to Be Confident With Impromptu Speaking
Why is public speaking important? Maybe you’re attending your best friend’s wedding and someone has asked you to say a few words about the bride and groom. Without good public speaking skills, this can create an awkward situation and even panic. However, when you have good public speaking skills, these impromptu requests no longer bother you. In fact, you may almost welcome them!
In another scenario, imagine that your CEO has asked you to “elaborate a bit on the last quarterly report.” Once again, you’re put on the spot. However, if you’ve honed your public speaking skills, you have nothing to fear. It can work to your advantage; good public speaking skills give the impression you are reliable and can be called upon to present truthful, accurate, and compelling information at a moment’s notice.
13. Public Speaking Will Help Expand Your Vocabulary
When you understand the power that words and presentation have over people, you’ll pick your words more carefully. You’ll also take into account the age and educational level of your audience. The key is to provide the information in a way that is meaningful and easy to understand.
14. Public Speaking Enables You to Master Fluency
How many times do you use the words “um,” “like,” and “uh” when you speak? We’ll bet that it’s more often than you realize. Extensive use of words like these is unacceptable in public speaking. By honing your skills, you’ll understand the importance of fluency, and these skills will spill over into your professional and personal life.
15. Public Speaking Enables You to Expand Your Professional Network
Why is public speaking important? It helps you network! As you continually refine and develop your skills, you may find that you are asked to speak at conferences and other professional events. The confidence you exude will entice others to seek you out and provide a valuable opportunity to make friends or establish useful business contacts.
Mastering the Art of Public Speaking Means You Have Conquered a Common Fear
One of the most common phobias in the United States is the fear of public speaking. For millions of people, the very thought of standing in front of an audience of any size and giving a speech causes heart palpitations and even panic attacks.
Once you have mastered these basic skills of public speaking, you can feel the personal satisfaction from either overcoming your fear or knowing you are not constrained by a fear that is so common to so many.
Public Speaking: It Touches Every Aspect of Your Life
Public speaking isn’t just an important job skill; it can help you be a better listener, gain confidence, and excel in your career. Who knows? Maybe one day, your words will inspire a group of people to make a positive change in the world.
