You were immersed in engineering or scientific matters in your engineering school or school of science.

You then work in industry or government where you want to practice engineering and science.

Somewhere along the way, hopefully early, you realize you must “sell” your ideas to get ahead. It comes as a shock. You thought all you needed to succeed was sound engineering or science.

Unfortunately, unless you can convey your thoughts intelligently in public, there will be a ceiling on your advancement.

Below are three reasons technical professionals need excellent public speaking skills

To Communicate Complex Ideas Clearly to Diverse Audiences

Technical professionals often work with complex systems, data, and innovations that must be communicated clearly to stakeholders, clients, or cross-functional teams who may not share the same technical background.

Public speaking skills help distill complicated information into accessible insights.

The Harvard Business Review notes that “being able to explain a technical concept clearly to someone unfamiliar with it is a hallmark of leadership” (Gallo, 2014).

Technical professionals must adjust their language, depth, and examples based on who they’re speaking to—executives, customers, policymakers, or non-technical teams. This requires:

• Understanding the audience’s goals, concerns, and familiarity with the topic.

• Highlighting relevance to their specific roles or problems.

• Avoiding over-explaining to experts or under-explaining to novices.

Communication research emphasizes audience analysis as essential for clarity. When the audience feels the speaker “gets them,” they’re more engaged and receptive (Lucas, The Art of Public Speaking, 2020).

Ask yourself, “What does this audience already know, and what do they need to know?”

Start with a clear, high-level summary, then offer more technical detail only as needed.

This layered approach includes:

• A plain-language “big picture” summary.

• Progressive disclosure of complexity (e.g., through Q&A, footnotes, or deeper slides).

• There are opportunities for clarification and feedback before diving deeper.

Cognitive load theory shows audiences learn more effectively when information is scaffolded in manageable steps (Sweller, 2011). Starting simple reduces overload and builds trust.

Try the “ELI5” method—Explain Like I’m 5—as a baseline, then scale up.

Well-designed visuals can condense complex data or systems into intuitive graphics. To do this:

• Use diagrams, flowcharts, and timelines instead of text-heavy slides

• Apply consistent symbols and color-coding to highlight key takeaways

• Avoid clutter and stick to one visual idea per slide or section.

Visuals improve retention and understanding by engaging multiple brain systems.

Studies show people remember 65% of information paired with relevant images, compared to 10% without them (Medina, Brain Rules, 2014).

Follow the “1-6-6 rule” for slides—1 idea, no more than 6 words per line, 6 lines max.

So, one reason technical professionals need excellent public speaking skills is to communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences.

Another is to build credibility and advance their careers.

To Build Credibility and Advance Their Careers

When technical professionals speak confidently and clearly, they demonstrate expertise, poise, and leadership potential. Public speaking enhances visibility and trust, which is essential for promotions, funding pitches, and conference presentations.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), verbal communication is consistently ranked among the top soft skills sought by employers (NACE Job Outlook Survey, 2023).

Presenting at respected conferences, panels, or webinars allows technical professionals to showcase their expertise to peers, decision-makers, and potential collaborators. Key actions include:

• Submitting papers, case studies, and project findings to calls for speakers.

• Using storytelling to highlight real-world applications and results.

• Sharing unique insights on emerging trends, challenges, and innovations.

When professionals present in front of knowledgeable audiences, they are viewed as experts and innovators in their field. According to the Harvard Business Review, visibility in high-trust environments enhances professional credibility and opens up leadership opportunities (Ibarra & Hunter, 2007).

Technical professionals who clearly explain their work to executives, investors, or clients can influence key decisions and drive projects forward. Techniques include:

• Translating metrics into business outcomes (e.g., “This improved algorithm cut costs by 20%.”)

• Framing ideas in terms of ROI, efficiency, customer impact, or strategic advantage

• Presenting confidently in internal meetings, demos, and boardrooms.

Professionals who bridge the technical and strategic divide are seen as leaders who “get the big picture” and are more likely to be promoted into management or advisory roles (Carnegie Mellon Career Center, 2021).

Speaking engagements, especially when paired with content (articles, videos, LinkedIn posts), help professionals craft a visible, consistent personal brand. This brand:

• Signals what they stand for—innovation, reliability, problem-solving, etc.

• Builds a network of followers, peers, and opportunities.

• Attracts speaking invites, collaborations, and job offers.

According to executive branding expert William Arruda, consistent public visibility enhances credibility and increases opportunities: “People trust experts they see and hear regularly” (Ditch. Dare. Do! 2013).

So, technical professionals need excellent public speaking skills to communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences, build credibility, and advance their careers.

A third reason is to influence decisions and drive innovation.

To Influence Decisions and Drive Innovation

Public speaking enables engineers, scientists, and IT professionals to advocate for their ideas, lead change, and inspire action in boardrooms or technical forums. Innovation often fails not because the idea is bad, but because it’s poorly communicated.

As Dr. John Kotter, a leadership and change expert at Harvard Business School, explains: “Without credible communication, and a lot of it, the hearts and minds of others are never captured” (Kotter, 2012).

When presenting ideas, technical professionals should connect their innovations to broader organizational goals—such as cost savings, operational efficiency, or market advantage. This includes:

• Starting with the problem or pain point the innovation solves

• Clearly stating the business value of the solution in terms leadership understands (e.g., “This system reduces downtime by 30%, saving $1M annually”)

• Anticipating objections and addressing them proactively.

Decision-makers are more likely to greenlight innovations when they see clear, relevant value. Harvard Business School professor Nancy Duarte emphasizes that compelling communicators don’t just explain features—they articulate how ideas meet the needs of the audience (Duarte, Illuminate, 2016).

Stories humanize innovation. Technical professionals can tell compelling narratives about:

• How a problem affected people or systems

• What inspired a new approach or discovery

• How the solution helped real users or customers.

Pairing data with storytelling makes ideas stick and elicits emotional engagement—key to gaining support from non-technical audiences.

Neuroscience research shows that storytelling activates more regions of the brain than data alone, increasing empathy and recall (Zak, 2014). It turns passive listeners into motivated allies.

Technical professionals often sit at the intersection of departments—engineering, product, operations, and marketing. Strong public speaking skills help:

• Facilitate shared understanding across disciplines

• Promote innovative ideas during team briefings or project reviews

• Encourage feedback and iteration that improves the final solution.

By leading inclusive conversations, speakers become catalysts for cross-functional innovation.

MIT Sloan research emphasizes that innovation thrives in environments where ideas flow freely across boundaries—and communication is key to that flow (Pentland, 2012).

So, three reasons technical professionals need excellent public speaking skills is to (1) communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences, (2) build credibility and advance their careers and, (3) influence decisions and drive innovation.

Still don’t think technical professionals need excellent public speaking skills?

If you don’t, give it a few years of watching your peers with excellent public speaking skills passing you by.

Eventually, you will know it’s true.

Call to Action

• Understand your audience’s goals, concerns, and familiarity with your topic before you begin to create, practice, and deliver your presentation

• Submit papers to the journal representing your technical area

• Pair data with storytelling to make your ideas stick and elicit your audience’s emotional engagement

References

• Gallo, C. (2014). Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds. St. Martin’s Press.

• National Association of Colleges and Employers. (2023). Job Outlook Survey.https://www.naceweb.org

• Kotter, J. P. (2012). Leading Change. Harvard Business Review Press.

• Ibarra, H., & Hunter, M. (2007). How Leaders Create and Use Networks. Harvard Business Review.

• Carnegie Mellon University Career Center. (2021). Top Skills for Engineers Beyond the Lab.

• Arruda, W. (2013). Ditch. Dare. Do!: 3D Personal Branding for Executives. Wiley.

• Duarte, N., & Sanchez, P. (2016). Illuminate: Ignite Change Through Speeches, Stories, Ceremonies, and Symbols. Portfolio.

• Zak, P. J. (2014). Why Your Brain Loves Good Storytelling. Harvard Business Review.

• Pentland, A. (2012). The New Science of Building Great Teams. Harvard Business Review.