The Importance of Presentation Skills in the Workplace - CareerMetis.com

The Importance of Presentation Skills in the Workplace The importance of presentation skills and communication in the workplace can’t be overstated.As published in the Forbesarticle, New Survey: 70% Say Presentation Skills Are Critical For Career Success, people polled confirmed their belief that presentation skills are key to achieving career success.Unfortunately, knowing what is necessary is easier than actually doing it since seventy-five percent of people admit they experience speech anxiety.evalThe good news is that anybody can improve their presentation skills. Practice can make all the difference.There is no justifiable reason for professionals to take a back seat forever to co-workers who benefit from the higher visibility and rewards reaped from enjoying superior communication and presentation skills.Why Presentation Skills Are Important?Company profits and individual contributors both benefit from utilizing improved communication skills. Corporate success correlates with how well corporate management communicates its mission with employees and customers.Not surprisingly, employees who contribute to this corporate success via superior presentation skills also benefit, earning the respect and notice of management and peers.When employees are considered to be good presenters, they become the “Go-to” person when it is time to make a presentation. This type of recognition elevates an employee’s standing in the organization.Effective public speaking leads to the adoption of important ideas necessary for progress. This type of power is valued by the management of any company and can easily catapult an employee’s career.Tips for Improved PresentationsAnyone who has ever been bored sitting through a poor presentation will admit that they did not feel connected to the speaker or what the speaker was discussing.evalAsking questions and reaching out to your audience in a relevant way to make them an active part of the presentation is a proven technique for keeping the audience engaged. Without audience par ticipation, nothing good happens.A speaker’s confidence wins the day.Practice will reap great benefits for any speaker. Over time, practicing a presentation and knowing the material will earn the respect of the audience.Getting rid of the “Ummms” when speaking will also bolster confidence and present a polished image.evalAnother important tool for elevating any presentation is to use visual aids. If it is true that “a picture paints a thousand words,” then incorporating memorable images into a group presentation makes good sense.Excellent speakers are known for using tools that the audience will remember.The Downfall of Poor Presentation SkillsPoor presentation skills can be blamed for problems at both personal and corporate levels. Companies that suffer from communication challenges experience higher turnover, higher employee absenteeism rates, and lower profits; while employees who don’t communicate well are less likely to be promoted or recognized as a leader.For the employee, poor communication skills also make it much harder to negotiate a raise or interview for a new job. When you take this same problem to the corporate level, corporate leadership suffers when they are incapable of attracting necessary funding, inspiring team players and selling products.There is no denying that companies and individuals who want to move forward with their agendas must make it a priority to improve communication and presentation skills.ConclusionOnce considered a soft skill, excellent communication skills are now viewed as a requirement for success. Considering the fear associated with public speaking by 75 percent of the population, there is no denying that it will take some work.Corporate and individual success in the future means making effective communication a top priority.Infographic Credit â€" presentationtraininginstitute.com