Episode #118: Naomi Osaka's Public Speaking Lessons

Why do high-performing professionals struggle with public speaking, even when they excel in technical work?

Executives and managers in 日本企業 (Japanese companies) and 外資系企業 (multinational companies) often find that technically brilliant employees hesitate or freeze when they must speak publicly. This gap between expertise and expression limits influence, leadership visibility, and organizational impact.

A powerful real-world example comes from tennis star Naomi Osaka. Though she performs flawlessly on the court, she openly admits discomfort during press conferences and award ceremonies — areas requiring communication skills she has never formally trained for. Many professionals experience the same pain point: strong technical mastery combined with weak presentation confidence.

Mini-Summary:
Technical excellence does not automatically create communication excellence. Without training, even top performers feel exposed in front of audiences.

Most careers—law, medicine, engineering, finance, IT, and others—reward deep technical expertise. Yet as responsibilities grow, professionals must represent their team, division, or company at meetings, panels, or conferences. This shift from “doing the work” to “communicating the work” often creates stress, anxiety, and self-doubt.

Like Naomi Osaka, many capable people panic or shut down when placed in the spotlight because they never built the skill set required for public speaking. What feels natural in private expertise becomes overwhelming in public delivery.

Mini-Summary:
Ignoring communication training leads to avoidable stress, missed opportunities, and reduced career influence.

Tokyo’s business culture—across 日本企業 (Japanese companies) and 外資系企業 (multinational companies)—places increasing value on professionals who can articulate ideas clearly and confidently. Whether in プレゼンテーション研修 (presentation skills training) or エグゼクティブ・コーチング (executive coaching), leaders must communicate vision, persuade stakeholders, and inspire teams.

Public speaking training reduces anxiety, increases confidence, and allows professionals to enjoy moments of visibility rather than dread them. When you can make an audience “lean in,” you gain authority, trust, and engagement—advantages that no technical skill alone can provide.

Mini-Summary:
Public speaking transforms pressure into presence, helping professionals stand out and lead effectively.

When two experts with equal technical knowledge speak at the same event, audiences naturally trust the one who communicates clearly and professionally. Presentation skill becomes a direct signal of credibility.

Imagine selecting an engineer after seeing two presentations:

• One speaker is unclear, nervous, or unstructured.

• The other is confident, engaging, and precise.

The decision becomes obvious.

Naomi Osaka’s global platform would grow even further with stronger communication skills. The same applies to employees, managers, and executives in every industry.

Mini-Summary:
Your presentation skill becomes part of your professional identity — a competitive differentiator in every field.

The best time to start training was yesterday. The next best time is today.

Whether through リーダーシップ研修 (leadership training), 営業研修 (sales training), プレゼンテーション研修 (presentation training), or personalized エグゼクティブ・コーチング (executive coaching), structured skill development gives professionals the tools to speak confidently, influence effectively, and elevate their career trajectory.

Dale Carnegie’s global methods, refined across 100+ years and applied in Tokyo for over 60 years, help individuals turn communication from a weakness into a strategic strength.

Mini-Summary:
Investing in communication training now prevents future stress and accelerates long-term leadership growth.

• Technical skill alone is not enough; leaders must communicate clearly and confidently.

• Public speaking training reduces anxiety and turns stressful situations into career opportunities.

• Strong presentation skills amplify personal brand and increase trust from colleagues, clients, and executives.

• Dale Carnegie’s proven global and Japan-specific training accelerates communication mastery for professionals at all levels.

Founded in the U.S. in 1912, Dale Carnegie Training has supported individuals and companies worldwide for over a century in leadership, sales, presentation, executive coaching, and DEI. Our Tokyo office, established in 1963, has been empowering both Japanese and multinational corporate clients ever since.