Speaking success is business success

Think about it; we almost never see a business leader who isn't also an accomplished speaker. Whether we are talking about Steve Jobs or Sir Richard Branson, Sheryl Sandberg, or Jeff Bezos, the great leaders, the ones that inspire us, are almost always great speakers.

In 2004 at the Democratic National Convention, a young man stood on stage and spoke twenty-two hundred words for some seventeen minutes and changed the course of history. The day before, no one had ever heard of Barack Obama; the day after, no one could ever forget him. My point is not about politics but about you and your ability to change your world through your speaking skills. 

A number of years ago, the Carnegie Institute of Technology released a study that said eighty-five percent of your success in the next five years has to do with your ability to speak and communicate your ideas. Eighty-five percent. That’s more than the boost from your degree, more than your years in the industry. That’s more than your connections. Hard to believe, but eighty-five percent of your success in the next five years is dependent on your ability to speak well and communicate your ideas effectively. Those of us who have struggled with stage fright may get left behind.

Typically, if you or I want to improve our worth in the marketplace, we would get an advanced degree such as an MBA or a PhD. But how long would that take, and how much would it cost? Bloomberg Money puts the cost of an MBA at $296,000. Yet the Carnegie study contends that eighty-five percent of your success depends on your ability to speak and communicate your ideas well. So, which investment is worth your time and money? 

Soft skills versus hard skills

Hard skills are what most of us learn in school: math, science, accounting, programming, and biology. By contrast, soft skills include communication, teamwork, management, coaching, and presenting. Hard skills require IQ, and soft skills require EQ or emotional intelligence. As we look ahead at the future of work, tasks requiring hard skills can be automated, but at least for now, soft skills still require a human.

The workplace is undergoing seismic changes

Today, well-respected fields involving hard skills are increasingly using artificial intelligence. Robots really are coming for our jobs. The Pew Research Center estimates thirty-eight percent of all current jobs will disappear in the next fifteen years.

At the same time, communication skills are more in demand than ever. The future belongs to the ones who overcome their fear of speaking.