Importance of Public Speaking?

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Image: renjith krishnan

If one thinks through the ages, just about all those who made an impact on history are renowned for great and inspirational speeches. Shakespeare knew this and in many of his plays a speech usually made the difference; 'Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears', from Julius Caesar inspired the crowds to turn on the assassins. The speech by Henry before the battle of Agincourt inspired the outnumbered British soldiery to prevail against fearful odds ('We few, we happy few, we band of brothers'). But not only politicians and leaders need to be able to give confident speeches, you can learn to give public speeches, too.

Examples of People who knew the Importance of Public Speaking

But it worked in real life too. Abraham Lincoln's 266 word speech after Gettysburg is a masterpiece and the last words ring as true today as they did then; " that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth." Those inspiring words have prevailed through the centuries and the US still profoundly defends them.

Winston Churchill was another inspired speaker and some of his courage even in the darkest moments of World War II inspired the British to hold steady and not buckle under the fearful odds of a rampant Hitler after Dunkirk. "We shall fight them on the beaches….. we shall never surrender" and his acknowledgement of the role played by the fighters after the Battle of Britain is still known by everyone today "Never, in the field of human conflict, was so much owed by so many to so few."

John Kennedy knew about the importance of public speaking; "Ask not what your country can do for you" in his inaugural address in January 1961 is often quoted. And likewise Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech was the inspiration for an entire movement that helped reduce the oppression of the colored folk of the US. 

The big Oscar winning movie 'The Kings Speech' shows how a speech impediment can be overcome, and that was pretty much a true story. The ability to speak well in public is so often necessary that it should be practiced.

Elements of Public Speaking

These are all great speeches that have the essential elements of public speaking but even in everyday life one may have to speak to more than one or 2 people at a time and the abilities to project one's voice and deliver a clear, concise, and coherent message is a skill that can easily be learned. 

The delivery often entail speaking slowly and clearly with modulation, takes training and practice which is not difficult. There are many public speaking methods which impart a lot of self confidence.