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As you make your way through life—completing your degree, advancing in your career, establishing yourself in a neighborhood or community—you will sometimes find yourself in situations in which you need to express your ideas to others. By studying and practicing public speaking, you can learn to deliver effective presentations in each of these contexts. Public speaking skills give you the power to share your ideas and bring about needed change in the world around you.

Public speaking skills can also come in handy in everyday situations. As you become more comfortable with public speaking, you will find yourself more confident about asking a question at a meeting or speaking up when hanging out with new coworkers. You will also be equipped to speak on the fly if you are asked to give a toast, accept an award, or make a presentation at the last minute.