Public Speaking: Still Relevant?

Does public speaking still matter in today's digital world? Absolutely.

The use of technology seems to ebb and flow from generation to generation. You will find some generations solely dependent on technology and you will find the generation who still appreciates written word (books, magazines, newspapers), and who still enjoy going to seminars and listening to people speak. Take the TED Talks for instance. You will find numerous influential conferences attended by hundreds of thousands of people and even though you can view them online, people still choose to attend them in person. You cannot fully appreciate the energy or passion of something sitting by yourself in your bedroom, watching a video on a tiny little screen. People want to experience things in person. Conferences, concerts, whatever the venue. There is still a desire to get out and be physically present.

I do not think anything will lessen the importance of public speaking. While the channels may change, the sender and receiver will still have that need for human contact. Sure, I can watch a video, but let me attend an event, where I can feel the energy in the room and can converse with like-minded people, those who I can laugh and cry with. I don't think I have ever heard of anyone saying no to experiencing something in person. Last year, 13,000 women attended the PA Women's Conference in Philadelphia. It was an amazing experience with amazing speakers. A week later, they released the video clips of some of the speeches and I was so thankful I got to be there in person to experience that awesome flow of energy. Technology cannot replace the human element, no matter how hard it tries to. In the end, it only leads us back to each other.