Do I really need to learn the Art of Public Speaking?

A student or a housewife might think that they don’t "need" to make presentations or speeches; a wealthy businessman may decide that it’s just not his "thing" to make presentations and, anyway, he has people working under him to do that sort of thing.

And yet, there is an Oprah Winfrey who commands millions of dollars for her public appearances. Why do 5000 people pay $2,500 each to listen to motivational speaker Anthony Robbins? It is not only their subject expertise but also their ability to inspire and influence people with their oratorical skills that make these people special. Listening to these superb speakers has transformed many lives. But do I need the skills of these gifted speakers, you may ask? After all, motivational speakers have to speak-it is their livelihood!

We all need the ability to influence, motivate, and persuade people, whether from a podium or off it. Mastering the skills of public speaking is essential. In fact, we might well need to communicate thoughts and ideas effectively several times a day:

As a parent, you have to convince the school board that a particular subject is being poorly taught.

As a consumer, you have to negotiate to exchange a defective TV at a local store.

At your club, you need to persuade fellow members to donate blood. 

As a student, you have to prove to the teacher that you are innocent of the wrongdoing you are accused of.

As a business leader, you have to inspire your employees during a crisis.

All these situations, or even more critical ones, can confront any one of us. Possessing good communication skills will help you handle them with ease. There is a strong connection between the skills of public speaking and day-to-day conversation. All the techniques learnt in public speaking (gestures, listening skills, handling question and answer sessions, etc.) are the same set of skills required to successfully communicate in daily life. You may have been talking all your life and it should be a natural skill.

Unfortunately, it is not. You may have an excellent command of language, but ask yourself – are you able to influence people at home and in the office? Do people misunderstand you? The sense of what is said is too often misunderstood, and lifetime friendships or marriages are broken simply because thoughts didn’t come out the way they were meant to.

A person possessing good communication skills in day-to-day communication can effortlessly progress to becoming a good speaker if he decides to go on stage and hone his skills. Once he overcomes stage fear and nurtures the techniques, he develops the confidence to brilliantly express himself on stage and off. The most noteworthy benefit of "learning to speak" is that it helps individuals low on self-confidence. Mastering the art of public speaking boosts self-assurance.

People all over the world attend public speaking courses to improve their communication and leadership skills. Participants in our workshops attest to the profound changes it has brought about in their careers and personal relationships. The author has mentored thousands of students and professionals low on self-esteem into optimistic individuals with oodles of self-belief. Over the years, he has witnessed success stories from people who have mastered the art of public speaking.

Whoever you are or whatever you do, remember Robert Brown’s golden dictum: “If you can speak, you can influence. If you can influence, you can change lives.”