Communication & Presentation Skills

At the center of professionalism are communication and presentation. While these two concepts can mean many things, here they represent relaying a message to another person or to an audience. Professionals use communication every day. In fact, everyone typically uses communication throughout their day. It is at the root of interpersonal relationships, business deals, professional environments, teaching, and peer interactions. However, communication is often easier said than done. This means that certain skills are necessary to enhance effective communication no matter who is involved. Communication skills increase the effectiveness of interaction and strengthen relationships. These can include soft and hard skills. For example, nonverbal and verbal communication, listening, empathetic personalities, and body language are all aspects of communication. Though it can take time to develop these skills, once they are obtained, communication will feel more purposeful. Professionals, students, teachers, and peers can all benefit from learning and applying valuable communication skills. For example, job seekers can enhance employability by having strong communication skills. During an interview, employers may get an introduction to someone’s communication style and strengths, but if lacking, it could be obvious or inhibit employability. In relationships, difficult topics may arise between friends, family, or partners. However, pertinent communication skills will deliver meaningful interactions for all parties.In addition to communication skills, often presentation skills are a must for anyone at some point in their life. Professionals may find themselves needing to present to their boss, coworkers, or clients. Sometimes academic professionals present in front of an audience when showing research or teaching a new idea. Teachers present to students, and students present to other students. However, presentations take time to get right, and sometimes they can pose their own challenges. Once learning presentation skills and practicing regularly, anyone can enhance the effectiveness of their presentations. It is an important and crucial part of professionalism.  For instance, an employer may require their employee to present to a client a new marketing strategy. If the employee is unprepared or unpracticed in presentations, they may fail to meet client satisfaction. Employers appreciate strong presentation skills, and this may increase the chances of successful employment or employability. On the other hand, professionals often communicate new concepts, KPI (key performance indicators), or strategies to workplace leadership, stakeholders, or coworkers. Professionals should be able to effectively communicate and present to various audiences, but knowledge of presentation skills and practice of presentations is important for success.