Is public speaking a skill worth having in the workplace?

Since the time of ancient Greek orators to the present era of modern communication forms, public speaking has very much become a part of our everyday lives. Crowds were moved to tears by President Obama’s "Yes We Can" speech and hundreds of thousands of lives were changed by motivational guru, Anthony Robbins, with his high-energy seminars. Millions more gasped in wonder and amazement when Steve Jobs unveiled Apple’s latest inventions through his exciting product presentations. No matter when or where we are, we are exposed to public speaking in one way or another.

BUT IS PUBLIC SPEAKING RELEVANT IN TODAY’S WORKPLACE?

Kate Lorenz of Careerbuilder.com listed the Top Ten Most Common Soft Skills that employers often look for and will be assessing a candidate on. Among this non-exhaustive list included the likes of a strong work ethic, positive attitude, adaptability, and of course, good communication skills. Kate defined good communication skills as having the ability to be verbally articulate and "make your case and express your needs in a way that builds bridges with colleagues, customers and vendors."

In my opinion, this statement validates the continuing need to stand out from your peers at work by building one’s presentation or public speaking skills. How else can you effectively "build bridges" with people at work if you cannot communicate to them instantly with a single message? It is also interesting to note that a number of companies are using presentations as a gauge of a candidate’s professional and emotional competence during job interviews. Even in the local context, public speaking has now evolved into an almost inescapable skill set that can set one apart from others and get one further ahead in life.Moreover, he who is able to articulate better to his colleagues would often stand in good stead for a promotion and be well-respected by his bosses and subordinates respectively. If you have a desire to be an inspirational manager, the very utterances that you make can be the start of a thought leadership that will inspire your subordinates, or move a mountain if you will. If you dream of wielding influence in the corporate arena and beyond, your speeches will achieve its desired impact. Have you heard or seen anyone absolutely bereft of charisma rising to the upper echelons of the corporate ladder? What would be your impression of a CEO who has given in to stammering as he or she makes a public address? Where would Martin Luther King be if he was a stutterer? Read full article here

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