Public Speaking and the Downsides of It - Essay Example

and Section # of Individual Learning Portfolio Question: Many people avoid public speaking. What are the benefits of university assessment by oral presentation? Oral presentation has become an effective way to analyze the capability of a person. This trend has started over a decade or so where more emphasis is being paid on communication of one’s ability through oral arrangement. One has to communicate their ideas effectively through speaking rather than writing it down. This has happened due to the changing times and economic conditions. To understand the change that has taken place in the corporate culture, let us look at our history in order to sketch a timeline in our minds about the changes that have taken place in the world economy and corporate scenario. Employers and other important officials are now giving priority to oral presentations and communication while recruiting fresh graduates. Although, a certain weight age is given to the written examination as well, more is judged from the person’s speaking skills and the way of presenting him/herself. This has happened due to the growing number of researches that have told the gentlemen the successful formula of a successful individual. The biggest example of the employer’s importance to verbal communication is the interview that is conducted twice of thrice along with the group discussion sessions that take place in many organizations in order to gauge the capabilities of these individuals while communicating with others. Therefore, as students, it becomes really important to get ready for these assessments of the future endeavors. In this enigmatic and ever-changing world, the qualities that one looks for in a person change rapidly. Over the past years, fluent communication has become more important, the pace has increased and so has the communication style. In the olden times, while the bureaucratic organizations still flourished, most of the communication was barred with formal written communication styles with much less importance given to individuality and self-expression. As times are changing, organizations are becoming more creative, so are the communication styles changing. Communication has become more creative and individualistic. In today’s era, one of the most important qualities that is sought from the individuals is the ability to express oneself in their own special way. Is a person is not able to express themselves and their ideas to the concerned personnel; they lose their chance of success. The employers are giving more attention to a person’s speaking abilities because it has been noticed that during a normal week of work, an employee would write less and speak more, present his or her ideas to the management, make contracts with other companies, conducting employee evaluations sessions and other sessions pertaining to office work; in short, a lot of talking. They also have to become part of formal and informal groups inside and outside the organizations where they have to prove their credibility in front of an audience without a pen or paper; a lot of communication with the help of speaking. Therefore, it is important that a person develops these habits at the right stage in time in order to excel in the later stages of life. It is also becoming more evident that as one moves up the organization, their speaking skills are given higher priority than their written skills. The reason for this is quite easy; as you move up the organization you assume the role of handling a larger number of employees under you. As the number of employees increase, more communication takes place verbally and one assumes the role of a leader of a large group of people. In such a situation, speaking rather than writing is more important as it communicates to the heart with the right kind of emotion which cannot be portrayed in the right sense through a piece of writing only (Leo, 2001). This brings us to the importance of fostering the culture of oral presentation to the university level students in order to enhance their self identity, self expression and make them acquainted with the needs of their future jobs and endeavors. Even though many are scared to talk publicly in front of others about their ideas aloud, it is important to make them realize that without this skill, they are going anywhere in the future. In the university level education, oral communication and presentation is being made mandatory for courses so that the credibility of a student is judged not only on paper but also on the face value of vocal qualities. The ability to communicate in front of a large audience and pass on your idea that was one does on paper can surely tell the teachers that the student knows how to communicate well in both the mediums of communication which is highly important (Leo, 2001). Oral presentation has two aspects to it; the verbal presentation and the non-verbal communication that occurs in harmony with it. The reason why more and more emphasis is being paid on oral communication and not on written communication is that written communication does not hold the power to effectively communicate one’s emotions as oral communication does. Also, the non-verbal communication that occurs simultaneously is more genuine and is considered un-alterable, which makes it a truer representation of one’s emotions, feelings and capabilities. As mentioned earlier, the importance of oral communication has increased as the corporate office settings have changed and become into a more informal one where speaking takes place most of the time, deals are made in the most unusual places and less emphasis is paid on the writing skills of an individual as he or she moved higher in the hierarchy of the organization. Verbal communication comes in a package with the non-verbal communication. Non-verbal communication is the method of communication without the use of words. This is a more natural way of communication that is not bound by the usage of good vocabulary; it is more genuine and comes in naturally (Marie, 1980). Therefore, the transmission of messages through non verbal messages is more important to employers and teacher in oral communication. Mostly, the fear of public speaking is evident through a person’s non verbal cues and messages. Lack of confidence is clear if the person is fidgeting with something or if their breath in uneven. This gives a clear picture to the concerned personnel that what they want is not present in the individual as they certainly don’t want an individual who can write wonders on a paper but isn’t able to put it perfectly into verbal communication methods. At university level, if these students are constantly exposed to their fear of talking in front of people and expressing themselves, are trained by professional to effectively communicate in front of an audience, this would help them wonders in future. In any given course, one is marked on the content of the presentation as well as the ability and the nonverbal cues of the presentation as well. This is done in order to train the individuals for the future endeavors. We, as university level students should use this opportunity that universities are providing us to improve on our skills. One great misconception that people low on skills of public speaking believes on is that the people who are better at public speaking are born with the talent naturally. One thing that they should understand is that its nurture and not nature that has made them this way (Ahmed, 2001). They have been exposed to different experiences regarding public speaking since they have been growing up and their skills of public speaking have developed over time where their verbal and non verbal cues communicate the same message. This quality is acquired and not natural. Another thing that should be encouraging for these individuals is that these qualities of public speaking can be acquired at any stage of life with little concentration of the tips. The key to the development of these skills is to keep on practicing till one gets perfect with the speaking skills (Amanda, 2005). Another aspect that highlights the importance of public speaking is reaching vast audiences which are not handicapped by not being able to read. When you can speak will and communicate your idea verbally, you audience size increases dramatically because more than one third of the world can understand what is being said however, cannot read the same thing written on paper. Imagine how many scientist and genius individuals have not been known to us just because they lacked the quality of speaking in public about their ideas. They had restricted their expression to the audience who could read, hence restricting their success. Speaking well can take you places; can make a difference in your life and the way it develops, and the way your community excels in the world. One should rather take advantage of the privileges one gets regarding the public speaking methods and grooming at the University level education. As university teachers are bearing more attention to public speaking, it is helping more individuals to enhance their public communication skills and present themselves and their ideas to the audience. This would also help them develop a good will in the university as the organization they would work for later in life. Therefore, it becomes a win-win scenario for all who take advantage of these aspects of university education. If one develops public speaking skills, they can help that person excel in any walk of life as it helps the person express himself/ herself anywhere at any time in front of anybody. Works Cited 1. Leo F. Parvis (2001). The importance of Communication and public speaking skills. Journal of Environmental Health; Vol 63. 2. Marie Ritchie Key (1980). The relationship of verbal and non verbal communication. Walter De Grutyer. 3. Ahmed A Khan (2001). Non-verbal Communication: Fact and Fiction. Available from http://www.strangehorizons.com/2001/20010226/nonverbal.shtml [Accessed 24 July 2008] 4. Amanda Hanson (2005). The Importance of Public Speaking. Available from http://media.www.dailyvidette.com/media/storage/paper420/news/2005/02/28/Viewpoint/The-Importance.Of.Public.Speaking-879793.shtml [Accessed 24 July 2008] Read More