Improve your speaking, improve your salary.

There’s a word for it.
It’s called ‘glossophobia.’
The world’s most common phobia.
And it’s the fear of public speaking.

Shockingly it reportedly affects up to 40% of us.

Despite its prevalence, very few people do anything about it, and it hurts them in the pocket.

When someone overcomes a fear - whether it’s arachnophobia or claustrophobia - there isn’t usually a financial reward for it. Unless you’re the winner of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!

But overcoming a fear of public speaking can actually bring financial rewards by enhancing your career performance, and subsequently the salary you earn.

This may seem obvious. You see a leader you admire and it seems self-evident why they’ve made it to the top … It’s because they’re such a good communicator. It stands to reason.

However there is very little empirical evidence out there which proves that better public speaking = better salary.

But why? You tell me. Because I don’t know.

It has taken some searching, and I needed some help, but I have found evidence which proves the thing that we know is patently true.

The evidence comes from a 2014 review of empirical literature on wage returns related to ‘soft skills’ from the Faculty of Economics and Administration at Masaryk University in Chechia.

The review examined several studies which looked at the impact of soft skills on career progression/rewards in comparison to the ‘hard skills’ such as technical skills, IT skills, qualifications, which are much better researched and understood.

To sum up what the research says in a soundbite-worthy sentence:

‘... empirical literature on wage returns to soft skills … shows that soft skills are connected with significant wage returns’

And what’s one of those top ‘soft skills’? You’ve guessed it. It’s communication.

Furthermore, be sure not to miss the use of the word ‘significant’ when it comes to the relationship between your communications skills and wage returns. We’re not talking about marginal gains here to give you the edge. Communicating with colleagues, talking about your work, talking up your work, clearly articulating your ideas and solutions are vital to progressing in your job and career.

So for the returns to be described as significant is probably no surprise. You know it and I know it. If you improve your communication skills at work, you’ll start to see the benefit.

In short, improve your speaking and improve your salary.

Supercharge your skills
If you want to start your journey to banish your fear of public speaking, improve your confidence, and boost your career prospects, then check out the online masterclass here at Better Public Speaking.

Research details
Paper: Soft Skills and Their Wage Returns: Overview of Empirical Literature
Source: Masaryk University, Czechia, Faculty of Economics and Administration, 2014
Link: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/179801