Introduction
It has been long established that the magnitude of the persuasion component of one’s speech hinges on the quality of their public speaking skills. This is especially so when it comes to corporate communication that presupposes impromptu speeches, interviews, formal brand promotions, and performance presentations among others (Baccarani & Bonfanti, 2015). Thus, public speaking skills should be treated as one of the most important instruments in a managerial toolbox.
The aim of this paper is to reply to a discussion of glossophobia by deliberating on the importance of effective public speaking in the twenty-first-century business environment. The paper will also outline several strategies for overcoming the fear of public speaking and boosting the effectiveness of one’s oral presentation.
Discussion
Effective Public Speaking in Business
The twenty-first-century business environment necessitates impeccable speaking abilities that exceed the natural endowments of many managers. A study conducted by Baccarani and Bonfanti (2015) shows that there is a bi-directional link between effective public speaking and corporate success. It follows that forward-looking managers have to boost their communication effectiveness by regularly engaging in practice as well as finding engaging avenues for oral presentation. In addition, it is necessary to base one’s communication messages on the two principles of persuasive communication: logos, ethos, and pathos.
Multiple lines of the investigation point to the fact that speaking skills function as a launching pad into the business world. According to Jackson (2013), the employability of business graduates depends on their ability to communicate in an effective and engaging manner. A corollary is that without taking active steps towards the elimination of speaking anxiety and enhancing the effectiveness of one’s oral delivery, it is not possible to succeed in the field of business.
Development of Public Speaking Skills
Many managers presented with the necessity to deliver a speech in public exhibit nervous habits that degrade the quality of their presentation, thereby diminishing the persuasiveness of their messages. Speakers who are aware of their lack of habit control are reluctant to participate in public speaking events. A study conducted by Spieler and Miltenberger (2017) suggests that public speaking anxiety can be overcome through the elimination of filled pauses, inappropriately used words, and other manifestations of nervousness. The authors argue that awareness training is highly effective in both ameliorating the intensity of target negative communication habits and improving individuals’ confidence (Spieler & Miltenberger, 2017).
Public speaking anxiety can also be treated with the help of modern technologies. Specifically, there is ample evidence pointing to the fact that virtual reality therapy can be effectively applied for addressing the issue of public speaking anxiety for both individuals with high and moderate discomfort levels (Stupar-Rutenfrans, Ketelaars, & Gisbergen, 2017). By gradually exposing participants to virtual reality environments with animated audiences, it is possible to remove their anxiety reactions. It has to be borne in mind that many individuals feel uncomfortable about public speaking due to the realization of the inadequacy of their body language (Kar, 2017). Rao (2017) argues that body language eloquence can be enhanced by simple mirroring techniques and the processing of informal feedback. It follows that the quality of one’s communication is a function of training and repetition.
Conclusion
The paper has discussed the importance of public speaking skills in the modern business environment. It has been argued that the elimination of public speaking anxiety should be on every manager’s agenda because corporate communication necessitates high levels of persuasiveness, which can be only achieved through the impeccable delivery of oral messages.
References
Baccarani, C., & Bonfanti, A. (2015). Effective public speaking: A conceptual framework in the corporate-communication field. Corporate Communications: An International Journal, 20(3), 375-390.
Jackson, D. (2013). Business graduate employability—Where are going wrong? Higher Education Research & Development, 32(5), 776-790.
Kar, A. K. (2017). How to walk your talk: Effective use of body language for business professionals. Journal of Soft Skills, 11(1), 16-28.
Rao, M. S. (2017). Tools and techniques to boost the eloquence of your body language in public speaking. Industrial and Commercial Training, 49(2), 75-79.
Spieler, C., & Miltenberger, R. (2017). Using awareness training to decrease nervous habits during public speaking. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 50(1), 38-47.
Stupar-Rutenfrans, S., Ketelaars, L. E. H., & Gisbergen, M. S. (2017). Beat the fear of public speaking: Mobile 360 video virtual reality exposure training in home environment reduces public speaking anxiety. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 20(10), 624-633.