Corporate speaker Phil Schibeci reveals the vital skill all employers look for

WHETHER it’s in front of colleagues or a group of strangers, few of us are good at getting our point across. So how can you impress in front of a crowd?

President Barack Obama is a man who isn’t afraid to get our in front of a crowd.

WHETHER it’s in front of colleagues or a group of strangers, few of us admit we actually enjoy it. But this life skill is the one thing bosses everywhere really want.

That’s right we’re not talking about whether you can embed a gif or translate HTML, but rather can get up and speak in front of people.

In fact, for those wanting to climb the corporate ladder or competing for promotions, you’d better brush up fast on your public speaking skills because it’s the one thing all employers now expect their workers to have, one expert claims.

Corporate speaker Phil Schibeci, who also holds workshops on public speaking, admitted he was an introvert who always got nervous before giving a talk.

But he said it was being aware of this and knowing how to deal with it that helped people like him stand apart from others.

According to him, introverts were often better speakers because they knew how to listen.

Mr Schibeci said public speaking was a life skill which not only enhanced people’s job prospects but also boosted their chances at interviews because employers like confident talkers, even if it was all show.

The US President can hold his own speaking to a small group or to millions.

“Public speaking is a big fear for the majority of people,” he said.

“For many people it’s one of the most dreaded experiences, often causing them anxiety and sleepless nights.

“It’s fear of humiliation which is primeval really because it’s traced back to not liking to be separated from the tribe.”

He added it was no wonder more than 95 per cent of the population dreaded getting up in front of an audience, with most people admitting they were more scared of public speaking than death.

“Logically it doesn’t make sense because we know we aren’t really going to die but many people feel like that.” he said.

But Mr Schibeci added those who learned to overcome their public speaking fears were not only learning vital life skills but were more effective communicators as well, ultimately having a major advantage in the job market.

Corporate speaker Phil Schibeci shows how it's done.

Former Prime Minister on the other hand while a good speaker but lacked charisma, the author of How to get out of the RUT race revealed.

Ultimately the key was not to be so concerned with stuffing up and wanting the audience to like you but it was knowing how to laugh at yourself which mattered.

Mr Schibeci also said once people learned how to speak to a group, most actually enjoyed it.

“It’s like waiting to get on an amusement ride at a theme park,” he said.

“As scary as it, it can also give you a massive thrill.”

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is a confident speaker, but is he charismatic?

With that in mind here are his tips on overcoming what many people see as their biggest fear

Step 1: Speak on a topic you are passionate about. This way you don’t have to do any research and you will enjoy presenting it. If you enjoy it so will the audience

Step 2: Be crystal clear on your message. It’s crucial to know what you want to leave the audience with. What do you want them to take away from your presentation?

Step 3: Work out the first words that you will say. The beginning of any presentation is the most challenging because this is when you will be the most nervous and the audience will be the most sceptical. Knowing exactly the first sentence that will come out of your mouth will fill you with confidence.

Step 4: List 3 points that you will speak on. Three bullet points is all you need; remember, this is a topic you know intimately because you are passionate about it.

Step 5: Know how you will finish. This is the message that you worked out in step 2. Write this out and practice it as much as you can prior to the presentation. I like to use quotes from famous people that relate to my central message as part of my conclusion.

Public speaking, few of us admit to liking it but it's a massive skill employers look for.