Communication Skills & the 21st Century Workforce

Last week, the US Chamber of Commerce and University of Phoenix released a new study about the 21st Century Workforce. The study suggests that while unemployment is high, there are actually close to three million jobs currently available in the workforce. The study points out a gap between the skills that workers have and the skills needed in the open positions. Any time you launch a study about skills needed in the workforce, you can expect communication skills to show up and this study was no exception. Although work experience was the primary criterion for hiring, communication was the primary criterion for promotion.

That validates our own survey which was completed in August of 2010 and addressed the impact of executive presence on helping managers get ahead. 85% of the CEOs we surveyed said that an executive presence and effective communication style helps managers get promoted; 78% of the CEOs said that a lack of presence or an ineffective style holds you back. In our world, statistics quickly shift to impressions, and we know that the most important measurement of effective communication is how others perceive you and what they’re willing to do in response to your message. The ability to motivate others and influence decisions has been and will continue to be one of the key requirements for leadership.