Public Speaking’s Golden Age Gives Everyone The Tools To Elevate Their Career

Influencer recording and practicing speaking skills

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Ancient Greece is said to have been “the golden age of rhetoric” because philosophers like Aristotle and Plato believed that citizens should be skilled in the art of public speaking. Of course, the title of “citizen” was reserved for a small, elite group of individuals.

Today, by contrast, nearly everyone has access to (mostly free) tools and training to elevate their skills. Never in human history have so many public-speaking resources been available at our fingertips. And that’s why this is indeed the golden age of public speaking.

According to LinkedIn, “communication” tops the list of the most in-demand skills, along with management and leadership skills. The good news is that the following resources will sharpen the skill you need now to build the career of your dreams.

1. TED Talks

An estimated 1.5 million TED Talks are viewed online every day. Many of the world’s greatest public speakers have given talks, offering extraordinary insights on a range of topics.

Since TED organizers often work closely with speakers to sharpen their 18-minute presentations, many of the videos offer excellent examples of capturing and keeping an audience’s attention.

My favorite examples include:

Bryan Stevenson. This human rights attorney is a magnificent storyteller who received the longest standing-ovation in TED history.

Chris Hadfield. The Canadian astronaut famous for singing “space oddity” on the International Space Station is a skilled orator who uses metaphors and dynamic delivery to grip his audience.

Susan Cain. Cain is the author of the mega-bestselling book, Quiet. A self-described introvert, Cain challenges the audience to turn their perceived weakness into a superpower.

2. YouTube

YouTube is the best place to find sensational speeches and presentations on any topic.

While people who take the TED stage are often exceptional speakers, there are plenty of other role models—contemporary and historical. For example, Steve Jobs was one of the best business storytellers of our time. And on YouTube, you can find every Apple product launch Steve Jobs made famous.

Begin your introduction to the Jobs mystique by searching for the 2007 iPhone launch, one of the finest business presentations you’ll ever see. In addition, you can watch Jobs’ 2005 Stanford speech which he wrote himself. It’s considered one of the top commencement speeches of all time.

3. Books

Videos aren’t the only way to learn communication skills. The power of the printed word is also valuable, especially when those words teach you how to write your own.

Since most people write their speeches and presentations before they’re spoken, spend some time working on the craft of writing. Some of my favorite books on writing include:

Writing Tools by Roy Peter Clark

On Writing Well by William Zinsser

100 Ways to Improve Your Writing by Gary Provost

4. Smartphones

The ubiquity of smartphones means there’s no excuse to avoid practicing your presentations on video.

Most people don’t rehearse presentations nearly as much as they should to be confident and comfortable. The old-school advice was to practice speaking in front of a mirror. Since it’s almost impossible to catch your mistakes in real-time, recording yourself on video is essential.

Yes, it can be painful since few of us enjoy watching or hearing what our voices really sound like. But for that reason alone, recording and reviewing your presentation will help you catch and eliminate some habits that detract from your message.

For example, the video might show that you use too many, uh, well, you know, filler words. If that’s the case, challenge yourself to use fewer fillers with every practice session—and record yourself every time.

Great careers demand exceptional written and oral communication skills. Take advantage of easily available tools and resources to take your career to the next level.