Mastering A Skill 1
Mastering the Skill of Public Speaking The intent of this essay is to outline the benefits of mastering the skill of public speaking. I believe public speaking is one of the singular most important skills a person can master. The art of public speaking has a myriad of benefits associated with it. It allows one to effectively communicate their points of view to others in a public forum as well as a private forum. Looking at our history will give demonstrative proof that mastering public speaking has a tremendous effect not only on the audience but the speaker as well. An example of such would be simply looking at the great leaders of our past.
One example would be Martin Luther King. When reviewing, with close scrutiny, Martin Luther King giving public speeches, one realizes that how a speech is given clearly affects its effectiveness. He alone was responsible for affecting the ideals as well as changing the minds and values of millions of people to be congruent with his own. Even today, his speeches are studied in public speaking courses across America. From the inflection of his voice to the tonality of his voice, as well as the rate of which he spoke. Even the unnoticed pauses between points of interest are only a few studied attributes of his speeches. Another great example would be John F. Kennedy. He too was a great persuasive communicator. He is one who comes to mind to a large percent of people who are asked who they think of as a great communicator that has affected change in our country. Take for instance, his inaugural address given on January 20, 1961. This speech has been studied by tens of thousands of students across America, dissecting and scrutinizing the method of which his speech was given. One cannot help but to feel motivated and persuaded when listening and or watching his inaugural address. History is full of numerous examples of how mastering the skills of public speaking can be used to properly and effectively communicate beliefs, ideals, and other important information. I believe our country would not be what it is today had it not been for the right leaders possessing the skill of public speaking. We enjoy certain freedoms and liberties today because of past leaders and their effectiveness to communicate their ideas and beliefs to effect change for the greater good. Public speaking is often looked at as a skill only necessary for those in businesses or corporate environments which normally involve a large number of listeners in the audience. Although that is true, the skills learned and mastered from public speaking are also just as useful in smaller gatherings such as PTA meetings, town hall meetings, boy scout meetings, girl scout meetings, as well as, a single mother effectively communicating to her children in the setting of their own living room.
Mastering a skill 2 Public speaking is also a useful skill for an aspiring employee to move up the “proverbial” corporate chain. These skills, when properly emplored by the employee, could allow him or her to gain positions of higher corporate status quicker than his working peers. Obviously, the employee would need to possess the skill-set necessary for performing the position. However, effective use of public speaking skills could help propel him or her faster than not possessing the skills. A specific example of how an employee could employ these skills would be conducting a business meeting, sales meeting, heading up a committee, speaking out at employee meetings, or speaking effectively during a manager’s review. These examples are just a few. One of my favorite public speakers is Zig Ziglar, a nationally renowned public speaker and sales trainer. Zig Ziglar started out selling pots and pans door to door and now is one of the most sought after public speakers in America because of his charismatic way of influencing and affecting the mindsets of his listeners.
Ask yourself a question. Who do you think of, looking over the past decade, that has affected the change of millions? Was he or she a poor public speaker or was he or she able to effectively articulate and deliver their intended message as though it were a science to do so?
Effective public speaking is definitely a learned skill and not just something you are necessarily born with. I urge anyone who has not taken a course in public speaking to do so for their own personal growth.