We talk a lot about digital transformation, agility, and artificial intelligence. But we talk less and less… about how we talk. Literally. Public speaking — this fundamental human capacity to structure and convey ideas to a group — seems to have disappeared from the list of professional priorities. Should we be concerned?
Orality, sidelined by digital writing
The proliferation of written communication tools (emails, instant messaging, collaboration platforms) has pushed live speaking into the background. Most workplace interactions now take place through interfaces where the voice is absent. Even meetings, often held over video calls, reduce oral expression to the bare minimum: we speak to “walk through slides,” not to embody ideas.
This evolution raises questions. Orality is not just one communication channel among others: it’s a mode of thinking, a way to build connection, exercise authority, and keep a culture alive. What isn’t expressed through speech often remains abstract, cold, or inert.
Public speaking: the benefits beyond expression
Teaching professionals to speak in public is not about crafting a “great speech.” It’s about helping them structure their thoughts, clarify their intentions, and find their place within a group.
The benefits are many:
- Stronger leadership: managers who express themselves clearly create a presence that fosters trust.
- Strategic alignment: a well-articulated idea is more easily understood — and more effectively implemented.
- Team cohesion: shared speech creates bonds where written communication can divide.
- Personal development: overcoming the fear of public speaking builds confidence and assertiveness across many aspects of work.
Why is this skill in decline?
Several factors explain this erosion:
- Tech-based interaction: digital tools reduce the need for direct, in-person communication.
- Time pressure and efficiency culture: it’s perceived as quicker to write an email than to prepare a clear, impactful talk.
- Lack of structured training: many organizations still see orality as an innate talent or a soft skill, not something to be rigorously developed.
- Personal discomfort: fear of public exposure remains high, even among experienced professionals.
The return of presence in a world of avatars
As communication becomes more virtual, embodied, spontaneous, vibrant speech paradoxically gains value. In a world flooded with AI-generated or templated content, hearing someone speak “for real” — with pauses, hesitations, emotion — becomes rare and powerful.
Some companies have understood this: they are bringing oral formats back — internal talks, participative seminars, team forums — and are training employees in these new rituals. Not to “perform,” but to create meaning, direction, and engagement.
A new kind of leadership — through a voice?
Speech is not merely a communication tool. It is a gesture of thought, a lever of influence. In a world increasingly dominated by fragmented messages and standardized content, it is essential to restore orality to its rightful place in professional life. The point is not to oppose speaking and digital tools, but to recognize — with clarity — that public speaking remains a powerful vector of meaning, clarity, and leadership.
At Swissnova, we see public speaking not as an accessory skill, but as a core lever for transmission, clarity, and impact. Training this ability isn’t about reassuring or freeing up expression — it’s about helping professionals master their influence with intention and purpose.
Our approach avoids communication tricks. Instead, it focuses on deeper work: refining intention, adjusting posture, articulating thought. It’s not about “speaking well,” but about making ideas move — in a living, structured, engaging way that resonates with others.
So the question isn’t just “How do we speak better?” but:
“What becomes of an organization where no one speaks anymore?”