The Importance of Public Speaking. Good public speaking skills are important in other areas of your life, as well. You might be asked to make a speech at a friend's wedding, give a eulogy for a loved one, or inspire a group of volunteers at a charity event. In short, being a good public speaker can enhance your reputation. Also review some of the best skills to include on your resume. Start with the basics—and ensure you know how to use a computer. While this goes without saying, before you learn any specialized technical skills, at the very least you need a fundamental understanding of how to use a computer—ideally, both a Windows or Mac.
. Speak slowly and deliberately. Here's a tip: it will probably seem too slow for you. Pause between ideas to give the audience time to digest what you are saying. Carefully articulate and pronounce your words.
A mumbling public speaker is hard to understand. Avoid filler sounds like 'Um' and 'ah.' It detracts from what you are saying and is distracting to the audience. Vary the pitch and volume of your voice to add interest. Speaking in a monotone is a surefire way to lose the interest of your listeners. Listen to podcasts of upbeat public speakers and try to imitate how they talk.
One good example is Paula Pant of the podcast.
One thing to start off with is the idea that you have two ears and one mouth – so, you should be listening twice as much as you’re talking. Being self-aware about your listening skills is the first step to making them better.The same way we can train our brains to speed read or skim large documents and pick out the gist, we can also learn to ‘speed listen’ and focus on the key points that someone is making.In response to someone who is aware of their inability to listen well, Lifehacker has some to help you increase listening skills. Work on your empathyYes, it’s hard enough to work on one soft skill without having to worry about another one. However, empathy is key to improving both listening and communication skills so really, it’s three for the price of one here.Monica Parker recently wrote about the struggle we can have with being empathetic all the time; however, there are some practical tips you can apply that will, especially at work.Being more empathetic at work doesn’t just improve your communication skills, it makes you.
Master the art of networkingThere’s nothing like having some sort of ‘skills lab’ to practise your abilities and gauge your improvements when trying to learn something new.Consider networking events your communication skills lab. The ability to network well is an art form and, if you can walk into an event and network effectively, you’ll be well on your way when it comes to your communication skills in any part of your life.Of course, as with all soft skills, this is easier said than done. Former Inspirefest speaker Kelly Hoey networked her way to her dream career, so if anyone can help you and develop your communication skills along the way, it’s her. Paraphrase the conversationMeetings and long-winded discussions can get out of hand or derailed from time to time. It’s not a bad thing; some of the best ideas can come out of the meandering road that started somewhere else.However, it can muddy the communication waters for those who are listening. Don’t be afraid to ask questions throughout any dialogue until you’re sure that you’re clear about everything.After a conversation, either clarify the main points with the person or try to paraphrase it yourself as if explaining it to a friend.
If you struggle with this, you may need some clarification. This is one of main weapons against miscommunication and will improve your skills exponentially. The more you do it, the less you’ll need to over time.
Practise public speakingEven if you are sure you will never have to do any public speaking as long as you live (spoiler alert: that is highly unlikely), it’s one of the strongest skills you can have.According to Cheryl Hamilton’s, about three-quarters of us are estimated to have some level of anxiety when it comes to public speaking, so you’re not alone.But if you challenge yourself to, you will master the ability to communicate to a large crowd of people. And if you can do that, your day-to-day communications at work will be a breeze.