While a picture can be worth a thousand words, those words will certainly come in handy if the picture is distorted or misunderstood. After all, the best way to communicate is through speech.
The four language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing are interconnected. Mastering each skill is necessary to become a well-rounded communicator, but the ability to speak skillfully provides the speaker with several distinct advantages. The ability to link words meaningfully to reflect thoughts, opinions, and feelings gives the speaker these important benefits:
• Ability to inform, persuade and lead. Business managers, educators, military leaders, lawyers, and politicians, among others, seek to develop their oral skills to such a level that they become master communicators. Speaking clearly and confidently can attract the attention of the audience, providing the golden opportunity for the speaker to get the message across. Sage is the speaker who wins and then grabs the attention of an audience, with well-chosen words in a well-delivered presentation, forming a message that is effective, informative, and understood.
• Ability to differentiate yourself from the rest. When you think of the ability to speak, you tend to think of it as a common ability. Think again. The ability to stand in front of others and speak effectively is not a common skill. Many are deathly afraid of public speaking; others have little ability to form thoughts in sentences and then pronounce those words in a credible way. The bad news is that at any given time the world has very few of Winston Churchill’s speaking skills; The good news is that a speaker with skills honed and developed with consistent application and hard work can excel.
• Ability to derive profit. Well-developed verbal skills can increase negotiation skills. Self confidence is improved. A growing sense of comfort comes from speaking in front of an ever-widening audience. A reputation for excellence in speaking skills can grow over time, giving the speaker some credibility.
• Career improvement. Employers have always valued the ability to speak well. It is, and always will be, an important skill, and it is worth the effort to fully develop.
Speaking skills are important to career success, but they are certainly not limited to career aspirations. Speaking skills can enhance one’s personal life, creating the integrity that we should all seek.