There are numerous benefits of public speaking, including improving your research skills, potentially nurturing career growth and practicing your deductive reasoning, according to Lumen Learning. Another potential benefit is boosting your self-confidence by making you feel more empowered as you interact with your audience. As the act of speaking in front of an audience to persuade, entertain, educate or motivate listeners, public speaking is an important type of communication and mastering it can offer many advantages for your life.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

Despite the importance of public speaking skills, many people have a fear of speaking for an audience. Public speaking is widely recognized as a common form of anxiety, and the National Institute of Mental Health identifies speaking in public as one of the situations most likely to trigger social anxiety disorder.^{(See disclaimer 2)}

Public speaking is a form of communication in which a speech is given in front of a live audience. There are a variety of settings in which public speaking may occur, ranging from intimate settings like classrooms or conference rooms with small audiences to large venues with hundreds or even thousands of attendees. With any type of public speaking, there are two main components to be aware of: content and delivery.^{(See disclaimer 3)}

The content of a speech is what you say, and the delivery is how you say it. According to the National Institutes of Health a good public speaker communicates clearly, organizes information effectively, and adapts their message to the audience to keep listeners engaged and ensure the message is understood.^{(See disclaimer 4)}

Public speaking skills are important because the need for effective oral communication will arise in most job roles, across a wide range of industries. Public speaking and oral communication skills are important in many careers because they help professionals deliver messages effectively, exchange information clearly, build professional relationships, expand their networks and demonstrate leadership in the workplace.^{(See disclaimer 5)}

Even among extensively educated and highly qualified professionals like medical doctors, public speaking skills are essential. According to an article published by the National Library of Medicine, practitioners must routinely give clinical presentations to demonstrate their work, knowledge base and expertise. Without the ability to effectively deliver a presentation, practitioners may struggle to advance their careers and be recognized as experts within their field.^{(See disclaimer 6)}

The benefits of public speaking skills for professionals are clear, but what are the benefits of public speaking for students and recent graduates? By practicing public speaking and building your skills as a public speaker, you can take advantage of many key benefits, including:^{(See disclaimer 1)}

• Strengthening critical thinking skills
• Building self-confidence
• Exercising deductive reasoning
• Becoming more persuasive
• Polishing your research skills
• Expanding your social and professional network
• Improving other communication skills, such as writing
• Reducing fear of impromptu speaking
• Building stronger self-awareness 

Benefits of Public Speaking for Students

According to the Young Scholars National Honor Society, public speaking is among the most valuable skills a student can develop. It helps students learn how to appropriately and clearly express their ideas while building confidence, leadership skills and critical thinking skills.

Students who practice public speaking often improve at:^{(See disclaimer 7)}

• Active listening
• Leading group discussions
• Organizing thoughts
• Writing
• Researching 

Focusing on verbal communication skills as a student may also improve one’s job prospects upon entering the workforce.^{(See disclaimer 8)} According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, key attributes employers seek in candidates are those built through public speaking: written and verbal communication skills, leadership, interpersonal skills and creativity.^{(See disclaimer 8 )}

Benefits of Public Speaking in the Workplace

What are the benefits of public speaking in the workplace? Public speaking can build credibility, help you network with colleagues and clients, impress prospective employers during job interviews and improve your leadership abilities.^{(See disclaimer 5)} A willingness to communicate publicly may also lead to more career growth opportunities.^{(See disclaimer 9)} According to the Public Relations Society of America, organizations expect that those in leadership roles will be more visible at conferences, meetings, business pitches and budget reviews, all of which require comfort with public speaking.^{(See disclaimer 9)}

Just like writing, public speaking is a communication skill that you can learn and improve with continued practice. According to Toastmasters International, practicing public speaking regularly will help ease the anxiety that can come with stepping in front of an audience.^{(See disclaimer 10)}

Even if you have a fear of public speaking and find yourself freezing up before an audience, it’s entirely possible to overcome your stage fright and become a polished public speaker. The most effective way to overcome a public speaking phobia and, consequently, improve your public speaking skills is to practice speaking in front of other people regularly.^{(See disclaimer 10)}

Toastmasters International notes that repeatedly exposing yourself to situations that induce stage fright can help train your brain over time to stop recognizing those situations as threats, thereby calming your physiological responses to them.^{(See disclaimer 10)}

A public speaking class will not only build the foundational skills needed to become a better public speaker, but it will also provide more opportunities to practice delivering a speech to an audience. People often have limited exposure to public speaking, so taking a class provides more practice to reduce speech anxiety and sharpen verbal communication skills.^{(See disclaimer 11)}

Public speaking skills may be useful when you need to persuade, inform, entertain or inspire an audience.^{(See disclaimer 1 )}You may find yourself speaking publicly on many different occasions in your personal, academic and professional life. 

Some common situations where you might speak before small or large groups of people include:

• Community organizing
• Job interviews
• Sales presentations
• Professional meetings
• Academic presentations 

Taking public speaking classes is an effective way to start building public speaking skills. In these classes, you will practice relevant research skills, work on speechwriting skills, watch others build and showcase their speaking skills and get plenty of practice with verbal communication.

Outside of the classroom, you can build your skills by practicing speeches out loud in front of a mirror or on camera, memorizing and reciting famous speeches from history, practicing recovering from mistakes while delivering a speech and reciting speeches for friends and family.^{(See disclaimer 10)}

While you’re giving a presentation or speech, try to shift your focus. Instead of evaluating your own performance while in the midst of a presentation, try to focus instead on what your audience needs to get the most benefit from your presentation. Focusing on other people instead of yourself can not only improve your presentation, but also help calm your nerves.^{(See disclaimer 10)}

At GCU, you can explore degree programs in communications to build foundational skills in public speaking. Through the Bachelor of Arts in Communications degree program, you will be taught to communicate with confidence and authority. If you are interested in applying communications to professional and relational situations, consider enrollment in the Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an Emphasis in Interpersonal Communication and Human Relationships degree program.