Presentations are important
In a world of faxes, memos, e-mails, newsletters and junk mail, most business people are forced to focus their attention on the written word and, as a result, neglect the development of their spoken communication and presentation skills. A recent survey carried out by The Aziz Corporation indicates that 78 per cent of company directors find public speaking the most daunting business activity. Yet this is a task many are required to perform on a regular basis – almost a quarter of respondents give a formal presentation to clients once a week or more. Directors confessed to being nervous about undertaking all manner of public speaking activities, from presenting to the board or addressing shareholder meetings, to speaking to a large audience of businessmen or giving a television interview.
In fact, communication skills are becoming the cornerstone of any modern career. The Aziz Corporation's research showed that 63 per cent of company directors believe presentation skills are more important for career success than intelligence or financial aptitude. In addition, over one-third of respondents felt that poor presentation skills had hindered their progress up the career ladder.
Communicate to inspire
Highly polished presentation skills are not only important to individual career development, but are also increasingly valued by companies as a means of delivering real benefits to the bottom line. Face-to-face communication is a powerful business tool that can inspire, motivate, persuade, impress and reassure. Clear communication gives clients confidence, and is important for clinching deals. In addition, clients are becoming more discerning and demanding, resulting in customer service becoming a key element in the training remit. All thi ...