Public speaking: the secret weapon in career development

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), May, 2005 by Vickie K. Sullivan

Stay connected. For those who collect business cards during conferences, do not extend the effort only to let them collect dust in the desk drawer after the conference. Many speakers meet like-minded individuals at an event, then go back to their day-to-day routines and let the relationships wither. The smart ones keep those connections alive. For example, they develop a follow-up vehicle, like an informal support network or a weekly chat room to discuss experiences. This gives them continuous visibility and, over time, their credibility among people in that group deepens.

Connections really can pay off, according to Price, "I do keep in touch via e-mail with folks who have a source of ideas, are doing things I admire, or share some of the same struggles and challenges that I do. Through speaking, I have met some wonderful people who have become an informal network for brainstorming."

Providing more information after the speech also can open more doors. Reynolds confides that assessment tools are especially popular. "People love to learn more about themselves. Every time I would offer to send an assessment, I would get a ton of business cards."

The most important benefit of public speaking is the confidence that comes with doing it frequently. Speaking is not about giving information; the Internet and the neighborhood bookstore provide plenty of that. Speakers who bring their own personal styles forward (rather than recite facts and figures) are seen as up-and-coming stars. They transcend the brand of their companies to establish their own credibility--and it is this credibility that will get them the next job or plum assignment, Reynolds explains. "We all want to hear about the human challenge, to interact with someone who has faced the same threats you have, to see light at the end of the tunnel. Speakers move their audience with their energy, not with their words."

Frequent speaking affirms faith in the message and confidence in the ability to articulate it as well. "Speaking takes us out of our comfort zones and puts us in the middle of the action," Price exudes. "If you speak enough, you get used to ever-changing situations. Thinking on your feet becomes natural." Most important, public speaking is a "process of transformation," says Zimmer. "You develop presence and authenticity through speaking. You are learning to connect with yourself and others."

Organizations benefit when their employees speak to groups. It not only builds awareness about the company, but broadens the thinking of the speakers themselves. "All of our senior-level executives are encouraged to do public speaking," Price declares. "If they are speaking with authority to groups of 50 to 500, it's one of the best ways to bring their awareness to our company and to our message. It leads to that 'aha' moment we strive to create."

What if marketing itself is not part of a company's goal? Many organizations still benefit by using speaking to broaden their employees' perspective. Moreover, getting out of the day-to-day work environment to mix with others from different backgrounds helps them find new solutions to pressing issues. "We tell executives that speaking broadens your thinking and puts you in contact with other people," Price explains. "It spices up what you do every day." In fact, Mercer Capital even helps set up the speaking engagements for key employees. "It's part of our marketing plan. With 20 years in the business, I know where the opportunities are. Part of my job is to arrange those speaking engagements, prep the speakers, and make it easy for them to deliver a great speech."