Can presentation Skills futureproof
your employability?
“Presentation literacy isn’t an optional extra for the few. It’s a core skill for the twenty-first century.” Chris Anderson, Curator, TED talks
How does ability to present futureproof your employability?
- Good presenters get promoted to Leadership
Winston Churchill’s inspiring presentations during World War II helped England remain staunch to the bone and emotionally resilient, despite being pounded by German air raids, sometimes daily, over a period of months.
In the workplace it’s a leadership skill to be able to stand up and deliver a clear and inspiring message. Often the best presenter who can influence the team is the one who is promoted to lead.
Research shows you can ask a higher salary if presentation skills is listed on your resume.
- Persuade and influence
Business leaders are often expected to present their message with confidence and clarity to staff, clients, partners, investors and sometimes the public. Millions of dollars can ride on these presentations.
When I deliver a Presentation Skills training workshop, face-to-face or live online, I ask participants the purpose of their talk. Is it to motivate, inform, persuade, or sell (whether a product or an idea)? Many participants reply their presentation is merely to inform.
A presentation is a moment of truth. While yes, it is to inform, it almost always conveys something additional e.g. perhaps reassurance that all is on track, nothing is of concern, the listener can have peace of mind. There’s always a persuasion and influence element to presentations.
- Presentation Skills prevent employee disengagement
Effective presentation skills reduces miscommunication, which is often the biggest cause of employee disengagement. Good leaders know how to motivate and win hearts and minds.
What are the symptoms of disengagement. Here’s five:
- Absenteeism
- Lack of discretionary effort: doing only what they have to do to keep their job. in silent protest of their unhappiness.
- Absence of teamwork.
- Low productivity
- Poor quality work, with errors, overlooked priorities and missed deadlines
Become a better presenter and you will become a better communicator. You’ll lift the morale of your team and inspire them to go the extra mile.
In the movie Braveheart the historical character William Wallace (played by Mel Gibson) inspires his motley bunch of warriors to go forth to the fray with the power of these words . . .
William Wallace: “Aye, fight and you may die. Run, and you’ll live… at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin’ to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take . . . OUR FREEDOM!”
Stirring words. OK . . . You’re not Braveheart.
How can you improve your presentation skills?
You can seek out a Presentation Skills workshop in your area. Or to improve the presentation skills for you and your team, invite a Brainpower Facilitator to come to your office to deliver a one-day Presenting With Impact workshop, (including seeing yourself present on video). Or I can personally deliver a live interactive live online workhop which goes way more than a mere “webinar”.
Copyright © Nina Sunday. All rights reserved.
