I love public speaking . I love teaching people how to speak in public even more. I speak in public naturally and with no hesitation, but it hasn’t always been that way. I have heard some say that they would rather die than have to speak in public. I understand that. I know the butterflies, the anxiety and the hesitation. With the proper coaching, anyone can learn to do anything from give a toast at a wedding, a prayer or benediction at a religious gathering, or even be the speaker for their company seminar or workshop. The ultimate is the keynote presentation where YOU are the headline. People come just to hear YOU. Now that’s enough to give most people the sweats and shakes.
In my audio series Speak Well, Earn More, I share ten reasons WHY you should learn to speak better. Here are the first five. I will share the rest in my next blog.
1. You convey your message in more passionate enthusiastic manner. Passion equals convincing. You don't need to survey an audience to find that they will always give better reviews to the more compelling, passionate speaker. You should have the motto, "Thou shalt not bore". Passionate and enthusiastic speakers always get invited back...so speaking well is good for repeat business and is a passive income generator. Glenn Beck is technically not a great speaker, but he is a great communicator. His passion is what shines brighter than anything.
2. It assures that you won't be misunderstood. Take full responsibility for your message. The reality is that if you are misunderstood, it is YOUR fault, not theirs. Even in one-to-one communications, someone should never say to you, "Sorry, I didn't get your name." The burden is on you to have everyone know your name, who you are, what you do, how you do it, and why they need you.
3. You will be chosen for more work, better work, and more often. You will be the company "smart-bomb". If a presentation has to be made, you get chosen. If a valuable sales call has to be scheduled, guess who they are going to choose? The rewards just seem to flock to the person who speaks better.
4. It makes you appear "smarter" People judge your capabilities by your speaking. Apart from the speaker's appearance (we will get to that in another article), the way you speak will have a direct effect on the impression you make to others. It may be a simple as talking to someone on a train on the way to work, the classic elevator conversation, and of course in business presentations. Intelligence and IQ are not good determiners of success. Some of the greatest leaders are known for their speaking style first and content second. I suggest getting both of those mastered. You have heard it said that "It's not what you say; it's how you say it." It is very valuable in life, business, relationships, marriage, and parenting
5. It leads to a more effective social and personal life. Networking events become easier. Impromptu speeches become effortless. You have been to events where someone off the cuff says to you, "Why don't you stand or come up here and give us a few words about......." These scenarios always lead to better work, more work, and more opportunity.
What will you do today to improve your speaking skills?