Exotech | Analytical skills, problem solving and technical skills are not the only things you have to master if you want to be successful in the world of work. Your public speaking skills, aka the ability to speak in public, are really needed in various companies, especially if you are targeting fields that require good communication. Make sure to cultivate this skill if you want to achieve good achievements and become a professional figure.
Why are Public Speaking Skills Important ?
Public speaking is more than just speaking fluently without stumbling, you know! This is actually a combination of several types of skills, such as verbal and nonverbal communication, the ability to persuade or attract the listener's attention, as well as adaptability skills so that you can adjust your way of speaking to the material and public demographics.
If you master public speaking skills, you will get several benefits in the world of work, including:
- Your career will easily progress because you have an advantage in terms of presentation
- Able to convey ideas well as well
- Able to communicate with various parties
Companies also tend to pay attention to employees who have these abilities because they "stand out" in a professional environment. The ability to speak in public also makes it easier for you to do networking. You will meet people more often, both from different departments in your company and from outside parties. You can exchange contacts, convey ideas and opinions, and make yourself better known in professional networks. Imagine the positive impact it will have on your career!
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Public speaking can actually have a positive impact on your personality. According to a study conducted by North Carolina Cooperative Extension (2016), public speaking training can increase self-confidence and the ability to describe opinions and ideas. This ability is even so important that they recommend that young people learn it from an early age.
Finally, getting used to speaking in public can improve your ability to understand ideas and think critically. This especially happens when you combine ideas to create a script or speaking guide that is convincing, professional, and easy to understand. You also practice your analytical skills when answering questions from the audience.
5 Main Public Speaking Skills
Public speaking is a multi-layered skill. When you master public speaking, you actually have several skills at once. These are the five types of skills.
1. Ability to Convey Important Points
When you make speeches and presentations or make important announcements, you have one goal: to make sure the audience understands your message. Many people know what they want to say, but the way they speak is unclear because of messy focus and a speaking style that makes it difficult for the audience to hear them.
In good public speaking skills, you must be able to find the core and important points of the message you want to convey. When speaking, you have to make sure the audience listens, for example by using supporting materials, speaking clearly, and following the speech or presentation guidelines so that nothing is forgotten.
2. Good Articulation
Imagine you have an interesting and convincing idea to convey in a speech or presentation. However, your way of speaking is unclear, leaving the audience confused or asking you to repeat certain points many times. As a result, the flow of the conversation is disrupted and the audience is not interested in what you are saying.
This problem is related to articulation, namely the ability to produce words clearly and understandably. You have to make sure each word comes out completely, but without sounding stilted. Each word must be heard clearly so that it sounds accurate to the audience's ears. Psychologically, good articulation will also make it easier for the audience to be convinced.
Usually, articulation is trained by reading a lot out loud. You can use presentation text or writing on a similar theme as a guide. Start reading aloud but at a slow pace, and make sure to pronounce each word clearly. Once it is fluent enough, you can repeat it but more quickly. Record your voice so that any differences and training results can be heard clearly.
3. Flexible and Attractive Communication Style
Speaking in public doesn't always have to sound serious. A flexible communication style in public speaking means ensuring the audience receives your message well. For example, make sure you divide your attention evenly among the audience. Before speaking, observe where the audience is sitting and make sure you share your gaze evenly while speaking.
Speaking in public means adapting your way of speaking to the atmosphere and atmosphere. Make sure you can differentiate intonation and attitude for conversations that are casual, serious, or have a family tone.
4. Ability to Read the Needs and Characteristics of the Audience
Know the audience who is listening to your material so you can adjust the way you speak. School age attendees are certainly different from students, professionals and the general public. A good public speaker knows when to speak in a friendly and down-to-earth manner, and when to appear serious and reliable. This makes your message easier to absorb in the minds of the audience.
Reading the needs of the audience can also help improve the quality of public speaking. For example, someone needs instructions or complete information about something important. There are those who need education. Some expect a convincing presentation so they can pour capital into a potential project. Make sure you understand it so that your public speaking skills can improve.
5. Ability to Handle Question and Answer Sessions
Finally, every public speaking session often involves questions and answers. This is part of the interaction between the speaker and the audience so you have to pay attention to it. The ability to handle a question and answer session includes understanding the material and the ability to describe something according to the level of insight and background of the audience.
A good speaker will know how to respond to difficult or unanswerable questions. This is closely related to communication and negotiation skills. You can respond by mentioning sources that can be read or contacted, giving alternative answers, or delaying answering until you get additional material to explain at the next meeting.