One of the truths of public speaking that is often forgotten is that it is a skill developed over time.
When I first got into the public speaking business about 10 years ago, I received some coaching and within a couple of months, I was teaching and giving seminars. Before long, I was invited by Georgia Tech to speak at an event at the business school. There may have been 100 people there to hear my seminar. Â And one of the professors gave me some very nice compliments.
Just recently I was invited back to Georgia Tech to speak in the business school. Â And that same professor heard me speak again. Â “I heard you speak ten years ago,” she said. “And I remember how good you were. But you’re so much better now. You have really learned to connect with audiences.”
I don’t tell this story to boast about my skills as a speaker. Rather, I’m telling the story because this professor’s comments drove home for me a point about how to get great at something like public speaking. It takes sustained effort over time.
