Public speaking is more than just facing an audience, standing on a stage, and delivering a talk. It transcends the boundaries of a podium and possesses transformative potential for personal development. While public speaking might induce people with anxiety and a fear of being judged and facing an audience, coping with it holds immense power for self-improvement and growth. The benefits public speaking sparks in an individual are incomparable to any such activity. Public speaking is regarded as a cornerstone of personal development, along with several others. In this post, we shall highlight the benefits public speaking ignites in one and how it contributes to the journey of self-improvement.
1. Confidence booster
The primary benefit of public speaking is honing confidence. It helps individuals overcome one of the most common fears, the fear of speaking to a wide pool of people. Facing an audience takes some audacity and courage. Once you’re on the stage and have a point to convey, it gives you surreal confidence when you succeed in conveying. Facing the audience for the first time is an ice-breaker. It makes you less prone to stage fright and loosens your social anxiety. The next time you’re back up delivering a speech or presenting something, it’s going to be a relatively far less anxious and more enjoyable experience. As individuals gradually speak publicly, they begin to enjoy the experience, the journey, and the attention they get once everyone is diverted to their talk. The confidence gained from public speaking assists individuals in other realms of life, such as relationships, work, etc.
2. Career opportunities
Public speaking can be an avenue for an individual to lucrative career pathways. It can be a professional career itself. Moreover, being in the limelight would impress and attract more people toward you, which may open opportunities to work with or for them. Also, the ability to critically think jot down a speech, and present it confidently can attract potential employers who work in your respective domain. For instance, if you’re speaking about marketing in a public speech and have expertise in it, an HR manager of a multinational firm might be in the audience and may see you as a potential candidate for a marketing position in their company.
3. Self-expression
Public speaking is a great way to express your opinions and points of view to audiences that might be interested in hearing them. Let’s say you have some insights and research on a topic to share, addressing it to relevant people would help get more exposure to your research and would allow people to hear new insights. The process not only helps the audience, but it is a great way to reflect on your own opinions, experiences, and research to refine and correct oneself.
4. Conquering fears and anxiety
As said earlier, the first public speech is an ice-breaker. Public speaking allows one to conquer anxiety and fear of judgment and overcome shyness to speak in front of an audience. Public speaking makes you more vocal, overcomes shyness and fears, and empowers you to socialize more.
5. Networking
Public interactions open doors for more connection-building and networking. During the event, or backstage, you tend to meet a number of individuals from several different domains that give you opportunities to meet people with diverse backgrounds, cultures, occupations, and ethnicities. Moreover, it’s a great place to meet with like-minded people who share the same interests and mindsets as you after your speech or presentations.
You can also engage with people by asking questions during or after your presentation or by seeking feedback and their thoughts on the topic under discussion. In addition to this, you as a speaker can also socialize with your fellow speakers and colleagues and help them during the process primarily to ease their nerves if someone is new to speaking publicly.
6. Leadership qualities
Public speaking is a great way to showcase or demonstrate the leadership qualities that one possesses. Not only is it a way to showcase your talent, but it is also an avenue to develop such qualities. A leader leads from the front, is vocal, and can inspire and influence change. Conveying your vision to people and making them believe in your ideas and thoughts is a hallmark of effective leaders. Leadership qualities can be learned by leading a team backstage, training new and aspiring speakers, and through public dealing and negotiating.
7. Persuasion and Narration
Public speaking lets you experience persuasion and narration firsthand. While we may learn theoretical strategies for persuading someone to a point, public speaking is a practical approach to it. You narrate your story, experience, or opinion to people who want to hear you. But you still have to convince them to believe in your words. Persuading your audience by factually backing your point is a way to make them believe and be a sound storyteller.
8. Impactful
Another benefit public speaking brings is the ability to make an impact. Your words can be a source of inspiration, motivation, or encouragement for someone listening. You can drive a change in society for good by inspiring people to see the need for change. You have the power to impact the lives of people, to make them feel better so they can live better. As a public speaker, if you have a large audience that means you’re influential, and your words carry meaning. Make a positive impact in society, and bring a change for good!
9. Polished Debating and arguing
Since public speaking solely stands on logic and reasoning, it makes the speaker a sound debater and develops their ability to present their argument better in a speech, as well as in other realms of life. These skills get further honed by a two-way discussion where the audience and speaker can have a question-answer session, especially after a presentation.
10. Communication skills
Last but not least, a direct benefit of public speaking is the refinement of communication skills. Delivering speeches and rationally thinking makes you better at communicating with people in daily life. Since a big part behind the scenes of public speaking involves research, it requires listening and reading to learn better. Similarly, in everyday life, it develops a sign of courage in you to hear differentiating opinions, embrace people with different mindsets, accept the thoughts of people around you, and become a better listener.
Public speaking is a great avenue toward personal development. These benefits are crucial for personal growth and require years of determination and consistency to achieve, but public speaking can act as a shortcut to these characteristics. Start speaking publicly and witness the transformation in you!