It's rarely mentioned in job descriptions, but just about every professional role will demand some form of public speaking at some time. Whether it's a sales pitch to a prospective client, a report to the board of directors or even a farewell speech to work colleagues, rising before an audience is commonplace.
"It's something none of us can avoid," says University of New England theatre and performance lecturer Richard Jordan, who conducts workshops in public speaking. "Even if yours is a junior desk job, a public speaking task can be sprung on you when you least expect it."
"We all recognise what a bad speech is. We've all sat through that really boring speech at a wedding or business luncheon. Perhaps that's what strikes fear in our hearts. We don't want to be that person."
The good news is that glossophobia - the fear of public speaking - can be overcome with practice. And becoming an effective orator is a great addition to your skill set, professionally and personally.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of how to improve your public speaking skills, Richard makes a few key suggestions.
Try not to think of public speaking as a performance that needs to be 'perfect'.
"Focus instead on what you are trying to communicate and how to make that message as clear as possible," Richard says. "This helps to take away some of the anxiety and pressure. The idea is to connect and engage with your audience."
Treat the presentation as an exchange; something that you are sharing with your audience.
"The notion of being a humble speaker and not above your audience goes back to ancient Roman times," Richard says. "A presentation is a form of dialogue; you may be the one speaking, but you are also reacting to how your audience is reacting to you."
Don't be afraid to be human, within reason.
"It's not the end of the world if you make a mistake - if anything this can help your audience connect with you more - but in general aim to demonstrate passion and confidence in what you're saying," Richard says. "Showing vulnerability can be effective, but the more practiced, clear and confident you are about what you're saying, the more engaged and convinced your audience will be. It's easier with some topics than others, but if you're not passionate then the audience certainly won't be."
