Many programmers believe they will never need public speaking skills in their job. To counter that notion, we spoke with our colleagues about all the situations in which public speaking skills helped them succeed.
Interview
The interview process involves two parties: the interviewer and the candidate. For candidates, self-presentation skills and the ability to articulate their strengths are the decisive factor. At EPAM, public speaking skills are required for all management positions. Managers and architects frequently interact with clients and the team, making effective public speaking an essential skill. Those who have chosen a technical path also need to be good communicators to share their expertise and knowledge with the team.
Client meetings/sales
When presenting a scope of work to a team or customer, it's important to do it right. Your confidence, demeanor, use of filler words, pronunciation, speaking rate, posture, and gestures contribute to the overall impression of you. What you tell a client can cost them millions, so think carefully about how you pitch your concept.
Team meetings
Meetings are essential for sharing important information and keeping colleagues motivated. Capturing your audience's attention at these meetings influences the overall quality of the team's work. In today's fast-changing environment, the capacity to communicate and be understood by colleagues, clients, and partners is critical. Improving your public speaking skills will make you a more effective communicator, allowing you to speak and be heard, work with distractions, and achieve more with less conversation.
Knowledge sharing: training, mentoring, coaching
Our colleagues suggest that professionals who want to share their knowledge with novice developers double their efforts on improving their public speaking skills. Although effective public speaking can be a powerful tool, it comes with risks. The audience may react not to the content but to the speaker's presentation style. The way a teacher presents information to their students can significantly impact whether they like the subject. Too often, course instructors and mentors overlook self-presentation and voice tone.
Not only what you say matters, but also how you say it - your volume, tone, and timbre all play a role. The speaker's posture, facial expression, and gestures are equally important. Public speaking is like the packaging for information you want to convey. The brighter it is, the more positive the response.
Conferences, meetups, and other events
Strong communication skills are also crucial for presenters at different kinds of events. It won't matter how well-prepared you are or how compelling your argumentation is if the audience doesn't find it convincing or feel that you genuinely care about the subject you are speaking about. Do you want your audience to hang on to every word of your speech and immerse themselves in the topic instead of checking emails on their phones? You can start by taking inspiration from amazing individuals who have transformed the world. Watch Steve Jobs' iconic keynote speech at the 2007 iPhone launch, or perhaps find inspirational speakers on TED Talks.
"Get very comfortable with public speaking. That’s an asset that will last you 50 or 60 years," says famous investor Warren Buffett, one of the wealthiest people on earth. The only 'degree' he displays in his office is a certificate for completing the Dale Carnegie public speaking course in 1951. Isn't that remarkable for a man with a net worth of over $80 billion?
What distinguishes a master of public speaking? They convey their thoughts in a consistent and structured manner. Experienced speakers can perfectly:
- select, filter, and systematize information, presenting it as a coherent narrative;
- gain the trust of any audience and inspire people;
- speak persuasively and efficiently using non-verbal communication (body language), voice, and visuals;
- answer questions from the audience and deal with difficult people and situations;
- keep within the time limit.
5 tips for public speaking
Olena Glekova, EPAM's Lead Training and Development Specialist, who helps our speakers prepare for major conferences, shared a few recommendations that can help you improve your results, reduce anxiety, and boost your confidence:
#1 Always prepare in advance. Improvising is always harder than delivering a prepared speech. Take the time to prepare because it will make you more effective.
#2 Practice is essential. To make the most of your self-improvement efforts, record a video and analyze areas for refinement.
#3 Seek advice. Ask public speaking experts, colleagues, or friends to give detailed feedback and recommendations.
#4 Learn from the best. Find someone whose speeches impress you. Watch and analyze their behavior during a video or live performance and try to "steal" the elements you like.
#5 Take every opportunity to speak. You will gain from honing your public speaking skills, and your audience will benefit from your insights, experience, and knowledge.
Useful materials for self-improvement:
- Sam Horn, Got Your Attention?
- Garr Reynolds, Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery
- Nancy Duarte, Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences
- Chris Anderson, Ted Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking
- Carmine Gallo, The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience,
- Simon Lancaster, Winning Minds: Secrets from the Language of Leadership
