Do you remember all those awkward job interview questions?
I’m thinking of pearls such as: ‘Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?’ (Not here); ‘Why do you want to work in this industry?’ (I can’t get a job in my preferred field); and ‘Why should we hire you?’ (I desperately need the cash).
But, for me, the most annoying by far is, ‘What’s your greatest weakness?’
Of course, it’s not difficult to answer – I can reel off several weaknesses without breaking a sweat. But it can be hard to think of a weakness that doesn’t undermine your claim to the role. After all, who’s going hire someone who’s lazy, unpunctual and selfish (except maybe Donald Trump)?
However, when grumbling about this loaded question to a friend, she surprised me by coming up with the perfect answer: public speaking.
“It’s something everyone can relate to,” she pointed out. “No one will judge you negatively for it and you can use it as an example of personal growth (i.e. I’ve sought to tackle the fear by volunteering for speaking opportunities, training courses, etc).”
If public speaking was ever a fear when I was younger, it’s one I’ve had to confront in my professional life
You can’t fault the logic, and it got me thinking: have I ever been afraid of public speaking?
As a naturally shy person, the answer must be ‘yes’. I certainly remember being very nervous if I ever had to stand up in front of a class or in school assembly. But if public speaking was ever a fear when I was younger, it’s one I’ve had to confront in my professional life.
As a journalist, I’ve done countless speeches, presentations, panel discussions and onstage interviews. I’ve addressed rooms filled with people hanging on my every word (or at least pretending to). And I’ve had to deal with the terror of clamming up, forgetting my train of thought, making a faux pas – all in front of a packed audience.
Make no mistake, this can be a genuine terror. “Most people fear public speaking more than death,” says Dan Graham of NextGen Planners, whose Speaker & Influencer Programme has trained over 300 finance professionals to overcome this fear since its launch in 2019.
According to Graham, public speaking is a crucial and undervalued skill: “The majority of financial advisers are required to have an influence on their clients every day. By developing their message and their confidence, they can convey important ideas more succinctly.
“From those we have worked with on our programme, the increase in confidence has not only allowed them to deliver their key messages to the world, but also to come out of their shells and let their influence come to the surface.”
The results, claims Graham, have been transformational: “New friendships have been formed, new businesses have been found, client service has improved and those doubting their careers have stayed in the profession.”
By contrast, those who lack the confidence to speak in public miss the opportunity to make these connections. “It means their great ideas are, often, not being heard,” says Graham.
Most people fear public speaking more than death
All of this has been on my mind recently, with the Money Marketing Awards having taken place last month (I did the introductory speech) and MMI London and MMI Leeds coming up soon (I’m opening proceedings and chairing panels at both).
Admittedly, I don’t know how many of my ‘great ideas’ have been shared via public speaking at events such as these. But I do know that speaking in front of people has given me a better sense of myself – how I sound to others, how I communicate and how my personality comes across.
Stated another way, it puts my strengths and weaknesses up in lights for all to see. This can be daunting, but it’s also empowering. Becoming a better public speaker has definitely improved my one-on-one skills, which makes me a better interviewer and networker. It may even have improved my writing (although you, dear reader, can be the judge of that).
And on good days, it plays to the other side of my personality. The truth is, I’m a bit of a show off. As part of my am-dram group, in particular, I love playing to the crowd, making people laugh, feeding off an audience. Those backstage moments can be terrifying, but when it all goes well, it’s the best kind of validation and a huge confidence boost.
So, if public speaking is a step outside the comfort zone for you, don’t be afraid to take that step. In the words of the motivational speaker Rob Brown, “If you can speak, you can influence. If you can influence, you can change lives.”
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