5 Reasons to Boost Your Presentation Skills

How many of you consider strong presentation skills a key component to career or business success and advancement?

How you present yourself makes a difference in how you are seen and respected by peers, customers and colleagues.

And yet, so many people I talk to are too afraid to do anything about it.

Can you relate?

When I decided to leave the corporate world and become self-employed one of my deepest fears surfaced – I knew that I would have to speak in public.

At first my heart beat so fast I swore the audience could see it pulsing from my chest. My palms were sweaty and my voice quiverd before every presentation. My voice high pitched and soft. Finally, I secured my first paid presentation. After the program the woman who hired me said, "Stacey, you could tell you're new."

I wanted to curl up under a rock and never come out. My husband kindly reminded me, "Stacey, you are new."

Instead of giving up I stepped fully into the fear by taking on opportunities where I was forced to speak. No more hiding. Taking action is the best way to improve any skill. You won’t improve your speaking skills by sitting on your couch thinking about improving your speaking skills.

I know not everyone is ready to take action towards improved public speaking. And that’s ok. You have to want it and commit to practice.

Before I take on a new activity, I like to know how I might benefit. In other words, why do this? Today I offer you a bit of inspiration by sharing some of the benefits I’ve realized as a result of stepping, sometimes wobbling, into my public speaking fear and improving my presentation skills. Perhaps they’ll give you the motivation you need to boost your own.

• Stand out in a crowded marketplace. Speaking differentiated me in a crowded marketplace. I said “yes” when others might have said “no”. Whether you’re in financial services, health care, education or other competitive profession, speaking up with confidence will help you stand out from the crowd.

• Help more people. Speaking to groups allows you to reach more people with your message.

• Meet more people. When you speak, you often meet people you wouldn’t otherwise get to meet including meeting organizers and audience members. Speaking is great networking!

• Become a go-to resource. When you speak, you are out in the community. The community gets to know you, trust you and may seek you out for help when needed, even if that helps goes beyond the scope of your expertise.

• Increased financial opportunity. As a self-employed professional, identifying new revenue streams is on the forefront of my mind. Workshops, speeches and online seminars can be a lucrative revenue generator.

Your turn: What benefits have you realized by improving your presentation skills? What’s holding you back from doing something about it?

Interested in boosting your presentation skills? Consider joining Toastmasters. With clubs from Quincy to Kingston, there is a supportive group waiting for you south of Boston.