When asked, nearly 60% of Gen Z students report they would like to be social media influencers. Interestingly, give those same students the chance to opt out of presentation in class, and they will jump at the opportunity. So why would a generation bent on seeking an audience avoid standing up in front of a classroom to practice public speaking skills? It’s a conundrum that vexes educators. While the chances of attaining influencer stardom are as slim as becoming any celebrity, public speaking and strong oral communication skills are coveted in the workplace. When polled, 90% of hiring managers at major companies report that it is a valuable skill they seek in candidates, in some cases, over intelligence, problem-solving, and creativity. So, if schools don’t mandate public speaking, and students can avoid it entirely, how do they prepare for when future employers require them to run team meetings or present to clients?

Assessing Public Speaking Skills ‍

Before students can improve public speaking, they need to determine their current strengths and weaknesses. One way is to film themselves giving a speech or presentation and watching the video afterward to assess their effectiveness as a communicator. People who are comfortable with public speaking make it look easy, but the most effective oral communicators don’t just prepare material; they practice everything from how they face the audience to what they do with their hands.

While watching the video, have students assess themselves for these common public speaking mistakes:

1. Volume: Are they too loud or too quiet? Can they be heard by someone at the back of a room without a microphone?
2. Speed: Do they speak too fast to be understood? Are they enunciating clearly?
3. Eye Contact: Where do they look when they speak– at the floor, the wall at the back of the room, or one person in the front row of the audience? Or do they move their eyes around the audience to include everyone?
4. Gestures: What do they do with their hands? Do they keep them behind their back or shove them in their pockets? Do they gesture wildly or use gestures effectively to keep the audience’s attention?
5. Position: Do they stand or move throughout the space? Do they face the audience, turn to the side, or even turn their back?
6. Articulation: Do they use filler words when nervous (oh, um, er, uh), or are they confident in their delivery?
7. Tone: Do they use effective rhythm when delivering, or are they flat? Does their tone match their topic?

When examining these potential pitfalls that impact effective oral communication, it becomes apparent that writing a solid speech or preparing a well-crafted presentation is the tip of the iceberg regarding strong public speaking.

Why Public Speaking Matters

Regardless of comfort level with public speaking, developing oral communication skills is vital for students in school and beyond. Likely, they won’t be giving TedTalks, but they will need to speak to groups occasionally or many people face to face over the work day. Depending on their job, they may meet regularly with clients, vendors, customers, contractors, developers, or department heads. Being comfortable having face-to-face conversations is essential. Business can’t always be done through messaging, so employers consider public speaking a leadership skill they seek out in the interview process.

Looking for ways to help your student gain confidence as a public speaker? The best way to polish public speaking skills is with structured and guided practice. Each summer, LTWN offers Speech and Debate courses as part of our 360 program. Click the link to learn more.