Speaking Well Can Fast-Track Your Career
In The Exceptional Presenter, consultant Timothy Koegel explains how to communicate more effectively, whether you're giving formal presentations, leading meetings, or meeting a client for lunch. The key, Koegel says, is practice. "Everyone I've ever studied who has made themselves exceptional—Churchill, Reagan—they've worked at it." Passion and organization are also common attributes among strong speakers, he says. U.S. News spoke with Koegel about how to be a better speaker and why it matters.
Why do people find it so difficult to communicate effectively?
People don't know how to prepare what they're going to say. Even with voicemail, people haven't thought it through until they hear the beep. If people aren't prepared, they're going to be less comfortable and more nervous.
Do you really need to prepare for leaving a voicemail?
It will be a better voicemail if you prepare for it. [Ask yourself], "What's the one thing I want this person to remember? What kind of action step do I want them to take in return?"
What are the most common mistakes people make?
Most people don't have any idea what they look and sound like when they're presenting, whether they're sitting at a conference table or talking to a group. They've never assessed how many ums and uhs they use. The way we deliver the message is more important than the message itself.
What's the best way to figure that out?
You need a coach so you can identify what you're doing. If it's something simple—for example, you tend to use ums and uhs—you can have someone listen to you during a presentation. Or ask someone to listen for words you use too much, like "basically," "clearly," or "actually." People overuse those words and have no idea. Videotaping yourself can also help.
Why do these skills matter?
These skills are the shortest distance from middle management to upper management. A lot of people don't think of themselves as presenters. They don't realize the impact of these skills, but the easiest way to fast-track a career is to be proficient with communication and presentation skills.
You say one key to being an exceptional presenter is to exude passion. What if your job involves talking about relatively mundane topics?
Clearly, some topics are more engaging than others. Even if you're doing a presentation on a topic the audience might find boring, you have to do something to make it three-dimensional, or you might as well mail it to them. Bring in stories and examples, even quoting an article or bringing in humor. Even if they don't laugh, if it's relevant to the topic, you've reinforced your point.
What mistakes did you make at first?
Initially, my biggest mistake—and this was 20-plus years ago—was not tape recording myself to see what I truly looked and sounded like. [After listening to myself, I realized] I sounded like I was asleep. I was amazed that I could feel so enthusiastic during the presentation yet sound so monotone and unenthusiastic on the recording.
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