MOVING UP THE LADDER WITH WORDS

The need to develop marketable skills for the working world is imperative, and speech writing and public speaking is definitely a good one to look into. According to the Book of Lists, public speaking ranked as the number one biggest fear. Yup, it scored higher than death. Pretty serious, huh? So with so many people scared of public speaking, great speakers are pretty well esteemed.

Susan B. Anthony is a great example of the power of speech:

"Susan was very self-conscious of her looks and her speaking ability in her youth. She resisted public speaking, fearing she would not be eloquent enough. Despite these insecurities, she became a renowned and outspoken public presence." "…was a prominent American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the 19th century women's rights movement to introduce women's suffrage into the United States. She traveled the United States and Europe, and gave 75 to 100 speeches per year on women's rights for 45 years."* Mind you, there were other women that supported woman suffrage, but it was Anthony's speaking ability that landed her a place in our history books.

So stop fearing it and embrace it, public speaking has many benefits that can help you zip up the ladder in your organization and career.

1. Broadens your abilities. When it comes to your career, you have to promote the product you have: you. And what makes your product so special? All the wonderful skills you have to offer, but with all the skills in the world, if the one skill you lack is to be able to tell people how wonderful you are, that's a big negative for you. Speaking eloquently helps to improve all communicative skills as well as gives you confidence.
2. Stand out. "Oh, pick him for the presentation, he speaks the best." It made sense at school and certainly makes sense in the workplace and it allows for opportunities for advancement down the road. Being able to speak eloquently and interestingly about something will certainly put you higher up than someone who stutters or fumbles their words during presentations. You'll be picked to give presentations, an activity that is reserved usually for management positions, and pretty soon management will notice. Plus, writing and even executing an impressive speech for your stage frightened CEO or boss, will definitely gain you respect throughout management and the workplace. A speech puts you in the public eye, the more you speak, they more people pay attention, not only to you but to your abilities.
3. Opportunities Galore. It expands your networking possibilities as you become more visible and exposed to persons of note and you'll meet a ton of more people than if you were only sitting in the audience. Speaking on a topic or issue brings not only to light the issue, but if you speak well you'll be linked as having an expertise in that realm, and there will always be plenty of speaking opportunities to continue your quest to the top.

So like Susan B. Anthony, stand up and speak up, and start making your way up...to the top.

Here's an example of really bad speaking abilities to give an idea of what you wouldn't want to sound like:

Miss South Carolina, Lauren Caitlin Upton, may not be that dumb after all, she was an honor student in high school, managed to get signed to a modeling contract, but thanks to her poor speaking abilities, she certainly won't ever land any kind of management job or a job that requires talking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUElcQoPToY

* Quoted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_B._Anthony

Related articles:

Benefits of Public Speaking

Public Speaking Benefits: How Public Speaking Skills can Help Your Career

Don't Sabotage Your Speaking Skills

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Leyda Hernandez

leyda.h.v@gmail.com

www.makingmovesincollege.blogspot.com