Your ability to speak to an audience is essential to your success. Speaking well can garner the respect and esteem of others, make you more valuable to your company, and get attention from people who can help you and open doors for you.

Good speaking ability will also convince people that you are generally
more talented and intelligent than others who do not speak as well.

What is your most valuable asset? Your mind. One of the most
precious skills you have is your ability to think well and to express
yourself clearly. This skill can help you earn more and get promoted faster as much as any other talent you can develop.

After all, the only way you can demonstrate your mastery of a subject is
by expressing your thoughts and ideas clearly aloud and in writ-
ing. When you speak well, people say, ‘‘He really knows what he’s
talking about.’’

The good news is that your mind is like a muscle. It grows stronger and more capable with use. Organizing your thoughts and words in advance makes you more alert and aware of what you are saying and how you are saying it.

The act of planning, preparing, and delivering talks and presentations forces you to use your mind at a higher level, and it actually makes you smarter.