February 2005

by Edward J. Barks

In “The Truth About Public Speaking: The Three Keys to Great Presentations,” Ed Barks emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning—a factor that many speakers neglect. Here is an excerpt from Ed’s brand new book explaining the importance of lifelong learning. You can buy the book here:

Lifelong learning involves a constant commitment to your personal education. If I can instill you with one value as a result of reading this book, let it be this: You will commit right here and now to search for a system that will serve you well in months, years, and decades to come.

Develop a system of learning through your personal experiences as well as through reading, observing, and listening. Keep your mind open to those learning moments that spring up at the most unexpected times and places. Perhaps you happen upon an article that strikes you as particularly insightful. You may attend a presentation from which you can take a tip or two. Or you might gain an idea on the spur of the moment from a colleague. Such instances will crop up as you walk through life. Be attuned to them.

Watch other presenters, not with the intent to mimic their good qualities, but with the curiosity that will aid your lifelong learning by noting their positives as well as their gaffes.
You are quite likely to need a coach to help set you on the right path, one who can offer you regular check ups to ensure you are achieving the progress you want to attain. You should, in concert with your coach, decide what your benchmarks are. Improvement means different things to different people. You may want to scale the heights and capture the ability to address thousands in a convention hall. Or you may need to simply get better when delivering a chalk talk to half a dozen co-workers.

You are in school for the rest of your life: Public speaking school. This educational institution is one without walls, without report cards, and without grades. You have the benefit of being able to spend your time learning whatever you want to learn whenever you want to learn it and at whatever pace you choose. Think how overjoyed we would have been to have such possibilities as high schoolers!

Dedicate time to learning what you need to walk tall down your chosen path, whether that be a better job, a shinier public image for your company, higher status as a community leader, success in winning elective office, or any other goal that is important to you.

Commit to curiosity. Read the great speeches from history. Ask questions of leading coaches and read what they have to say.

One note of caution: Be sure that you carefully vet your sources. There is a lot of bad advice out there, especially online, but also in books and articles. Lifelong learning involves understanding how to separate gold from fool’s gold.