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Career Development Denise Alexander, BS, MA
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Effective communication is one of the most important skills you can have out of school. During a job interview, the ability to speak effectively can emphasize the other skills you bring to the table. Once you have the job, speaking one-on-one or in a group setting is a skill you will have to use in almost any public-facing career.
However, public speaking may be one of the biggest fears most people have. How do you go from inexperienced to great? How do you move from dreading a thing to being confident in your ability?
Let’s explore why public speaking is so important, some common strategies for improving your public speaking skills and some careers where effective communication is most critical.
Public speaking is a key attribute of any effective leader. Whether you're leading a healthcare team, managing a business project, overseeing public safety initiatives or trying to share important information with someone, the ability to communicate is crucial. People who can speak confidently and persuasively are more likely to gain the trust and respect of their teams and foster a positive and productive work environment.
Public speaking is also not one size fits all. Extroverted or introverted, no matter the background or belief system, everyone can improve their communication skills. Anybody can be a skilled public speaker. It simply requires that you understand why it is important and put in the time to improve.
There are countless resources available to help any person willing to put in the effort become a good, confident, and compelling public speaker. To begin with, consider these tried-and-true methods for improvement:
Public speaking can be especially important, but often underestimated, during day-to-day professional interactions. Consider these career paths and how effective communication is used every day:
Patient and Colleague Communication (Healthcare and Nursing):
In healthcare and nursing, the ability to communicate clearly and compassionately with patients is among the most important skills you can have. Public speaking skills can help to articulate medical information, provide comfort and establish trust with individuals and their families. Whether giving a presentation to a group of patients or explaining a treatment plan one-on-one, effective public speaking often contributes to more positive patient outcomes.
Collaboration and Teamwork (Behavioral Health and Public Safety):
In behavioral health and public safety, collaboration and effective teamwork are essential. Public speaking skills aid in articulating ideas, sharing insights, and creating a more effective team environment. Whether presenting a case study during a team meeting or addressing the public during a crisis, the ability to communicate persuasively can improve overall decision-making and positively affect public perception.
Project Pitches and Client Meetings (IT and Business):
In technology careers and business, you’ll often need to present projects, ideas, or proposals to clients, stakeholders or team members. Public speaking skills help to effectively convey complex information, gain support and secure funding. Whether you're presenting a software solution or pitching a business strategy to hospital administrators, the ability to articulate your ideas clearly will influence that project’s success.
Strong communication skills can be a bridge to a better career path and the ability to influence and engage with more people in your professional and personal lives. Part of the time you spend in your classes at Herzing University is about more than just giving you knowledge or letting you test your honed hard skills in real-world settings. You’re also asked to write down that knowledge, present that information in front of a classroom and explain your thought process in real time. Every day you do this, you’re getting better at it. Keep going, keep practicing and soon the confident public speaker you’ve had inside will be visible to everyone who works with you.
BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.
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