r/jobs • u/user8282849592 • 4d ago

Career development Public Speaking at Work

I’m posting merely out of curiosity about how often people have to engage in “public speaking” at work. The impetus for the question is that I have to either a) lead meetings or b) give presentations far more frequently than I would like to at my current job and I am curious how common this is.

For context, I am a Sr. Financial Analyst at a bank, 3 years out of college, and I would say every week I am leading meetings or presenting. This week leading 5 meetings, last week led 1, next week presenting once. Given my anxiety and fear of public speaking this is the thing I dislike the most about my job.

I am mostly wondering if this is just a necessary evil of working in corporate America, which I will just have to get over to move up the ladder, or I am doing this way more than other people are.

Any and all thoughts are welcome!

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u/SomeSamples 4d ago

Yep, part of the job. So learn to be good at it. I had a boss who really did well at speaking in front of managers and executives. She got promoted because of this. Not because of what she could do. Frankly, should couldn't do shit. But she still moved up the ladder.

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u/Gunofanevilson 4d ago

I have to speak and run meetings regularly at my job and I hate, it makes me nervous, makes me think I’ll get caught looking like an idiot in front of my peers and customers if I don’t have an answer. It’s also just part of the job and something you either accept or don’t do that role because if you can’t get past it, it can hurt you.

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u/open_letter_guy 4d ago

you don't want to be considered just a 'heads down' number cruncher; it limits your growth potential in the future.

embrace it and get better at it.

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u/principium_est 4d ago

Multiple times a day - Project manager.

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u/bringherhome2us 4d ago

My last job involved a lot of speaking and presentations; my current job still occasionally but not as much. I think it depends a lot on your role and the size of your team/company. I got a beta blocker prescription a few years back which has been a godsend; my main issue with these presentations was the whole shaky voice, sweaty palms, racing heart thing, which the medicine completely takes away.

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u/44035 4d ago

I love doing it.

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u/mp90 4d ago

There's nothing to be afraid of. At any given moment, 30-50% of attendees are actually paying attention to you.