Public Speaking on a Daily Basis

Many people have the false impression that accountants are quiet, socially akward professionals who choose a career like accounting to minimize interaction with others. That couldn't be farther from the truth. As accountants, we need to interact with clients and peers on a regular basis. No one can go it alone. That's why communication skills are vitally important for CPAs. Early on in your public accounting career, you'll likely be required to do some amount of public speaking. Even if it is simply providing an update to your audit team or clients on a regular basis, a small meeting is still an opportunity to polish your public speaking skills. If you get nervous in these situations (which we all do), then here are a few tips to help you put your best foot forward every time you have to speak to more than one or two people:

1. Always be prepared - Other than impromptu meetings, any meeting that is on the attendees' schedules before the actual date means that an agenda, outline, or plan should be prepared. No one wants to feel you are wasting their time in a useless meeting, so be sure to have an objective for every planned interaction. If someone else is calling the meeting, always assume your input will be requested, and have something prepared to talk about: an update on your portion of the project, the status of an audit, ideas about planned audit procedures. Whatever the topic, be prepared to say something and write it down to help you keep your train of thought.
2. Think of about your audience - Many people stand before an audience and worry about themselves: Am I talking too fast? Are my hand gestures too distracting? Am I using "um" too frequently? I hope they don't notice how much I'm sweating. By focusing on all the things you are self-conscious about, it often draws attention to those very things and makes you lose your train of thought. Focus on your audience any time you are speaking. What do they need or hope to hear from you? How can you best communicate the problem you need to address as a group? How can you solicit input from everyone in an effective manner? What do you need to say to keep everyone awake and engaged in the conversation? By answering these questions as you speak, you will naturally move the conversation in a productive direction, involving not just yourself but your participants. No one wants to stand before an audience, ask them a question, and get absolutely no response in return. If you focus on the needs of your audience rather than your own self-doubts, they will volunteer their input and join the conversation.
3. Facilitate, don't just present - This suggestion is a continuation of the above recommendation. Even if you are asked to be the main speaker at an hour long meeting, don't think of it as a presentation. Meetings are held to either inform people of something useful, address a problem, or develop a strategy for execution. All of these aims involve more than just the speaker. Plan what you are going to say as a faciliatation of discussion, rather than a presentation. You shouldn't be behind a lectern with 100 slides of data, rambling on about everything you know. Ask the audience questions throughout your presentation, seek their input, throw out interesting suggestions and see what sort of response or questions they generate. Facilatate the group discussion, rather than being the only person in the room with something to say.

By being well prepared, making your audience the primary focus of your discussion, and soliciting a response from the other meeting participants, you can make every professional group interaction effective.