Public speaking is the act of communicating information verbally to a live audience. This is important in a wide variety of professional contexts; for example, a Powerpoint presentation of research findings to colleagues, a startup’s pitch to potential investors, and a politician’s speech to her constituents all use public speaking. Having verbal communication skills that can convincingly convey key insights and value propositions with clarity and confidence is an asset in many roles across many fields.

However, even experienced professionals may experience anxiety and stress in public speaking situations. For some, the experience of “stage fright” in front of an audience can cause them to forget important points in their speech or freeze up and be unable to speak entirely. For those that speak English as a second language, a lack of confidence can lead to stumbling over words or mumbling through a presentation.

Fortunately public speaking ability doesn’t have to be something that you either have or don’t - it’s a skill that can be learned like any other. By using proven techniques of organization and preparation, as well as frequent practice, anyone can improve their abilities in this area and benefit their career in the process.

Public speaking skills can be an asset to many professional careers. Whether you are an entrepreneur speaking to two venture capitalists, a manager presenting quarterly results to an audience of 20 employees, or a political leader addressing millions of people in a live televised speech, having confidence in this area will give you an edge.

This is particularly important for top executive roles, whether the chief executive officer (CEO) of a business or the mayor of a city, as those in these leadership positions must regularly use public speaking to inspire and motivate their organization. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, top executives in the private sector earn a median annual salary of $208,000, and top executives in government - e.g. mayors or governors - earn a median salary of $110,230.

Yes! Coursera offers many opportunities to help you develop public speaking and other communications skills, which can benefit you whether you’re a native English speaker or learning English - or business English - as a second language. You can take courses and Specializations in public speaking from top-ranked universities like the University of Washington, the University of California Irvine, Macquarie University, and the Georgia Institute of Technology. And, even though you’ll learn remotely, the ability to watch live videos of lectures and attend virtual office hours with instructors will give you the opportunity to practice your public speaking skills so that you’re ready to use them in any business setting.