This is a guest post by Jeff Perry, MBA
“There are only two types of speakers in the world. The nervous and the liars.” ~ Mark Twain
Glossophobia, or a fear of public speaking, is believed to affect up to 75% of the population. It’s not easy to overcome for many of us. That’s OK. If this is you, start where you are. But the myth that some people are just “born” to be speakers and communicators is simply not true. Public speaking skills are something that can be developed with intention, practice, and the right support to help you improve.
1. Communicate Beyond the Stage
“Communication is a skill that you can learn. It’s like riding a bicycle or typing. If you’re willing to work at it, you can rapidly improve the quality of every part of your life.” ~ Brain Tracy
Don’t overcomplicate what public speaking is about. It’s simply about conveying an idea or message to others.
Public speaking, in the end, comes down to communication in many different scenarios. It’s not just about the times when you are up on a stage speaking to a crowd (although that can be part of it).
Here are situations you might not normally consider public speaking, but where you do utilize public speaking skills:
- Team meetings
- Performance reviews
- Job interviews
- Collaborating with team members
- Brainstorming
Sometimes you have time to prepare, and sometimes you are asked to share ideas/opinions on the spot.
No matter the situation, you want to engage with confidence and present yourself, your company, or your ideas in the best way possible.
These are not skills to neglect!
2. Begin With the End in Mind
[Read more…] about 4 Ways Engineers Can Vastly Improve Their Public Speaking Skills
