Public speaking is a process of addressing and communicating with a few or many people to persuade, motivate, educate or entertain their listeners. Since well-prepared, skilled, and dynamic speakers are valuable to employers, they often earn leadership positions and are placed in charge of contacting important clients. Even if employees do not have significant roles at work, communicating well, instructing, or persuading others will improve their opportunities to advance by acquiring public speaking skills. Once these communication skills are developed, confidence often increases in a person and lessens their speech-related anxiety.
Benefits of Strong Communication Skills
The acquisition of communication skills and the confidence that accompanies these skills often translate into success at one’s job, especially if this position requires interacting, persuading, or teaching others. Because a person’s voice is his or her most important tool, breathing deeply from the diaphragm is necessary to produce a resonant voice that initially attracts listeners and continues to hold people’s attention. Delivery is also vital for holding listeners’ attention. Being familiar with the material that a speaker wants to communicate prevents the person from pausing too much, repeating oneself, or stumbling over phrases and words. Such fluency is an important asset because it keeps listeners’ attention as they can follow the speaker’s ideas and points of interest. It is also essential that speakers learn to pace themselves to express their ideas effectively, thus permitting their understanding.
Ways to Polish Speaking Skills
Eliminate Superfluous Sounds, Gestures, and Words
Whenever someone is somewhat nervous, he or she is likely to exhibit excessive gestures or utter words or brief sounds when addressing others. While gestures can be effective, they harm the message if they become repetitive as they then distract the speaker’s audience away from the main points of the speech. Good speakers eliminate all nervous gestures.
Employ Effective Movements
There are body movements and gestures that improve verbal communication effectiveness as no one wants to listen to a statue. Stepping forward or employing a unique gesture to emphasize a point serves to support the impact of the speaker’s words.
Strive for Clarity and Conviction
Good speakers have well-founded convictions in which they strongly believe. By providing clearly expressed justifications for their convictions, speakers will give direction to their thoughts and convince audiences to join them in their purposes.