I can't possibly tell you how many times I've heard that remark.
Many professionals think of communication skills as simply the necessary skills to make a "good" presentation.
Let me suggest that presentation skills are for any and all spoken communication. That means Sunday school class, parties, phone calls, banquets, parenting and business proposals. I could name at least 50 more situations, but you get the point.
Here's a thought from presentation coach Tim Koegel: If you ever speak in public, you must have public speaking skills.
People dread public speaking because they believe they have to be perfect. That simply isn't being realistic.
If in the interest of not making any mistakes you read a script or, worse, memorize the message, you are headed for disaster. That's more pressure than anyone should accept.
In fact, the more conversational you become, the more engaged your audience will be — whether you're speaking to one person at a football game, or standing in front of the whole department to review the past six months of work.
The error so many of us make is to rely on the feedback of co-workers instead of a trained coach. If you think the "Wow, that was terrific, Sam" or "Susan, you nailed that presentation" are the truth, think again.
Agendas are so complex today — and time so precious — that most people take the easy way out and simply feed your ego. No one wants to tell somebody that they did a lousy job.
But if someone doesn't tell you the truth about your presentation skills, you won't be able to improve.
If in doubt, make a videoDVD, videotape or a digital recording are your best courses of action.
Video doesn't lie. You can't rationalize needing to lose 15 pounds when you watch yourself on camera wearing clothes that are too tight.
Or maybe you don't look people in the eye. A close-up on video will quickly reveal whether you make proper eye contact.
Especially important is to learn how to listen to a video recording without watching it. If you have no inflection in your voice, you won't convince anyone that your message is important.
Finally, remember not to reach for perfection — and understand that speaking skills should always be in a constant state of improvement.
Schatzie Brunner spent nearly a decade at Turner Broadcasting as talent coordinator for Larry King Live and as a CNN news anchor. Today, she runs her own consulting business. Her Web site is http://schatziebrunner.com.
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