Public Speaking

Why is public speaking important for leaders?

How does a leader inspire if they can’t speak publicly? Be it communicating a company vision to colleagues, bidding for budget to the board, or pitching innovations to investors, speaking in front of others is part and parcel of good leadership.

“I see speaking in public as a part of being a leader. We have an important role in inspiring others, particularly future generations. It’s a core part of leadership – engaging and inspiring people is just what we should be doing,” says senior technology and services leader, Paula Donoghue, who partnered Axiom to brush up her public speaking skills before delivering a keynote at London’s Excel to an audience of around two thousand.

We’ve been helping executives like Paula to speak with confidence for approaching three decades.

The power of a good public speaker

Great public speakers have changed the world. Yet you needn’t go too far back in history to feel the impact of a strong public speaker. Just think about these five standout speeches given in the last decade…

• “Nothing left in the tank.” – Jacinda Ardern says farewell as New Zealand’s Prime Minister.

• “I may be the first woman to hold this office. But I won’t be the last.” – Kamala Harris accepting her role as the first female Vice President.

• “We will meet again.” – Queen Elizabeth II’s address to the United Kingdom during COVID.

• “No one is too small to make a difference.” – Greta Thunberg addresses the UN on climate change.

• “One child, one teacher, one pen, and one book can change the world.” –
  Malala Yousafzai’s speech to the UN Youth Assembly.

Public speaking is powerful. And it’s critical to business success. Not only does it inspire hope, help people learn, and transform performance and profits, but it can also catapult your career.

You’ll never project your expertise, or promote your personal brand to more people, than when you master the communications skills and find the confidence to step into the spotlight and speak.