A cliché of CVs is that everyone describes themselves as being an ‘excellent communicator’ – both written and oral - but what does this actually mean?
We work with more than 40 per cent of the FTSE100 and have been an integral part of many of their graduate training programmes.
During our 35 years of designing and delivering bespoke communication training modules for graduate training programmes we’ve identified five key areas that graduates must master if they are going to swiftly climb the corporate ladder.
1. Impact
Whether you are offering your thoughts in a one-to-one meeting, making a presentation to a large audience, or attending a networking event, you need to be able to communicate with confidence, cohesion and clarity.
Everyone knows that people form an almost instant impression of you within the first 7 seconds of clapping eyes on you. They then spend the rest of the time trying to confirm their opinion of you. This is called confirmation bias.
It’s therefore vital you get that first impression right and support it with clear, memorable messages using tone, pace and intonation to generate interest in your content.
Equally important is the power of eye contact, especially in the first 30 seconds. People who maintain eye contact are generally perceived to be more reliable, confident and warm.
In individual meetings it is also important to take your lead from the other person, especially if they are senior. If they are quiet and reserved, being loud and forceful may not be the best approach.
2. Writing effective emails
Sure, you’ve been writing emails for years. Everyone knows how to do it. But are your email writing skills ready for the work place?
Picture the scenario. You’re in the first couple of days in the role and you receive a group email from someone senior. If you don’t agree with some of the content in that email, would you as a junior member of the team feel confident replying to everyone on the mailing list? Would you make your points to your boss and ask them to send the email? Do you even need to comment at all if you have been copied or blind copied into the email?
Or, maybe you receive an individual email from someone senior in the organisation. How do you address them in your response? How should you sign-off the email? Is ‘best wishes’ appropriate?
It’s worth remembering that in many offices there is a deluge of emails received every day. Would you know how to make your emails stand out so they are acted upon promptly? Would the recipients know what you want them to do as a result of the email?
If you are going to spend 10 per cent of your working life writing emails, you need to ensure they are read and acted upon.
3. Personal branding
Presumably you want to be seen as someone who is knowledgeable and professional? Or maybe more someone who has integrity, is approachable and trustworthy? Maybe a combination of all these qualities?
You need to really think about your audience here. What’s most important for them? What will make them most comfortable in your ability to help or work with them?
Take your lead form the business brand and the senior leaders within your organisation (although, be warned that they can often ‘get away’ with dressing more relaxed due to their position within the business). If you work for a young, dynamic, and trendy PR agency maybe a black suit and tie is not for you?
Whatever the size of your audience, they tend to assume that what they see is a reflection of your state of mind. So it’s vital to consider the tone you want to set and reflect that in your dress.
Generally, you want to be about 10 per cent smarter than your audience.
It is worth taking a look at the way TV newsreaders achieve both authority and personal engagement in their appearance.
Male newsreaders are clean shaven and wear a plain well-ironed shirt, pulled down so there are no wrinkles showing, and a richly coloured tie done up well at the neck. For a more informal occasion where you want to dial up personal engagement rather than authority, you can lose the tie and can wear a plain, coloured shirt or a bold striped shirt. For even more informality, roll sleeves up to just below the elbow, rather than wearing a short-sleeved shirt or a polo shirt.
Female newsreaders will be well groomed with brushed hair, some make-up, jewellery – earrings/necklace, a defined shoulder line, generally in plain, bright clothes. The effect is sharpness, professionalism and personality.
To soften the impact, but still retain the professional look, consider wearing a pattern on your blouse or jacket. A smart cardigan over a dress, rather than a jacket, or the addition of a scarf would have the same effect. This can be helpful if you’ve been given feedback that you come across as overly assertive.
4. Messaging
Whatever size audience you are talking to, and regardless of whether it is and internal meeting or one with clients, it’s vital you stay in control.
Preparation is key, ensuring you know what your message is and what you want to happen as a result.
Once you know what you want to say, think about how you can support it with relatable examples and statistics – messages become memorable when they are supported by examples.
Another useful tool here is a media training technique known as bridging. It is a subtle way of moving the conversation back to your main message when you have been asked an awkward or unhelpful question.
5. Social media
The younger generation are in many cases likely to be more advanced in their use of social media than the companies they work for, using a wider range of channels and greater variety of content.
Arguably the biggest risk for graduates starting out in their career is oversharing on their personal accounts, and not just if the posts relate to their work.
The danger is these posts could damage the reputation of your employer, particularly if you state in your profile where you work. Even a simple share of a post some may deem inappropriate can be damaging.
Smartphones have made social media more accessible than ever before and has blurred the line between work life and home life, but should you be seen to be using your personal accounts during the working day? How should you present yourself and your personal brand on LinkedIn and Facebook?
Your online presence is a reflection of your professional and personal self so getting this right during the early years of your career is key.
Media First are media and communications training specialists with over 30 years of experience. We have a team of trainers, each with decades of experience working as journalists, presenters, communications coaches and media trainers.
Click here to find out more about our range of highly practical communication skills courses.
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