Page 41 - Between One and Many The Art and Science of Public Speaking

8 Part 1 Foundations

person in business or the professions and the chances are high that the person
will tell you that skilled speakers are much more likely to fast-track up the rungs
of their organization’s ladder. Simply put, people who speak well in public are
the agents of influence in our culture. They are better able to (1) promote their

professional self, (2) present their ideas to decision makers, (3) create positive
change in the workplace, (4) contribute worthwhile ideas in meetings, and
(5) exhibit their ability to critically think as well as effectively listen.

Promoting Your Professional Self

The chance to speak in public frequently presents us with an ideal opportunity
to enhance our professional credibility. Some time ago the authors of this text
were treated to a presentation by Dr. Bonnie Johnson. She spoke about work she
had done for Intel, the world’s largest manufacturer of silicon chips. As someone
trained in organizational communication, Dr. Johnson was given permission by
Intel to study how well personnel were adapting to technological change in the
workplace—for example, electronic workstations. When she had concluded her
study, Intel offered her a position with the corporation.
Following her presentation, Dr. Johnson welcomed questions from the audi-
ence. One undergraduate asked her why she thought Intel had hired her. “Do
you want to know candidly?” she asked. “Because initially they were more im-
pressed with the public presentation I made to top management on the results of
my study than with the study itself. They hired me because I not only knew my
subject but could effectively speak about it and its implications for Intel.”
As shown by Dr. Johnson’s evaluation of her experience with Intel, commu-
nication skills in general and public speaking skills specifi cally are both desired
and rewarded in the workplace. Surveys of personnel managers at top companies
consistently demonstrate that they look for college graduates who not only can
communicate interpersonally and in writing but also can deliver a speech well.

Presenting Ideas to Decision Makers

Another reason organizations put such high value on speaking skills concerns
the effective communication of ideas. Your success depends not only on your ideas
but also on how well you can present those ideas to people whose decisions will
affect your career. When you think about it, every occupation and profession
involves selling ideas to other people. For example, the life insurance salesperson
who must persuade a client to increase coverage is unlikely to close the deal
simply by dropping a brochure in the mail. On a larger scale, most corporations
require managers to present reports or briefi ngs describing their accomplish-
ments and future plans and goals. Those individuals who seek to move beyond
entry-level positions need to be able to convince others of the wisdom of their

ideas. Thus, being able to speak to decision makers with confidence and author-
ity is an indispensable tool for corporate success.

Creating Change in the Workplace

One of the most important tasks for any supervisor or manager is to be able to
convince colleagues that proposed changes are desirable. To remain competi-
tive, companies must implement new technologies and procedures. Yet many