Looking down the road to success at those who are striding confidently toward their destinations, you’ll see a common thread. Superior personal communication skills are the common element in the success of great leaders, managers, and sales professionals.
Are you born with outstanding communication skills? Do you automatically acquire great communication skills by merely landing a great job? No.
Nor is attaining these skills something we learn by reading a book, though books help. You are born with personal communication tools, but they must be honed. Preparation and practice are the disciplines that boost you toward success. We expect sports people to do it, and yet the very tools that we use to make our living in one way or another – our communication skills – we expect to get by on our charm, our personality, or because we’ve done it a lot.
We do not honor practice as it should be honored. If we could teach people to practice what they do, even if it were a salesperson hardened by years of travel and presenting their products, just 15 minutes to 20 minutes before every appointment would make them much more successful.
Bill Bachrach, one of America’s most successful trainers of financial planners, told me about one of his most successful students. This financial planner had attended the same course 17 times! That’s practice and preparation personified. We, too, get graduates of our classes coming back repeatedly to work on their communication skills.
Top professional presenters have made incredible careers with outstanding communication skills. Not one of them would ever “wing it” because they know their careers depend upon peak performance every time.
Comedian and icon George Burns said, “I did practically the same act for 23 years. However, I never once did it on stage without first practicing in my room!”
Apply that rationale to your relationships, presentations, and other outreach. Planning, Preparation, Practicing, Presenting – that’s the formula. There is no mystery, no secret, no hocus pocus. The magic is in the four P’s! That’s what gets you to the next level.
If you’re serious about advancing your skills and making an investment in yourself, we invite you to our Excellence in Speaking Institute. Classes are back in person and filling up quickly so don’t delay! Visit this page to read feedback from our graduates about their experience.
