Public speaking is a vital skill for any professional.

Have you ever had to give a speech in front of a large audience? Or have you ever had to convince others with an enticing presentation? Many jobs require you to speak in front of your fellow employees, and improving and refining these skills is critical to advancing in your career.

From the very start of your working life, in your first job interview, public speaking has been crucial. Research has shown that one of the most important skills that employers look for during interviews is the candidates’ ability to give clear speeches and presentations in front of bigger audiences.

After you've been hired, public speaking remains key to standing out at work. This is clear from the results of the Job Outlook 2013, a survey of over 240 employers. The ability to communicate verbally, inside as well as outside the company, was ranked as the most valued skill by far, rated 4.63 out of five potential points.

Good public speaking skills will also help you advance in your career. If your employers are looking to promote someone, they’re much more likely to choose someone who stands out, and good public speaking skills will get you noticed. This will give you an edge over any colleagues who might also be in consideration.

The authors of this book are living examples of this, though in quite different ways. Jeremy Donovan advanced in his career in a corporate environment, and Ryan Avery trained at Toastmasters, a club for people looking to improve their speaking abilities. Through his training with Toastmasters, Avery went on to become one of the most successful professional public speakers of our time.

Learning how to speak confidently, clearly and convincingly in front of an audience is an enormously useful skill that will be critical at all points of your career, and it can make you a highly regarded professional.