More survey results from Distinction Communication’s 2009
Annual Presentation Impact Survey…
Q2. Do you believe you are an effective communicator?
45.5% I think I’m a somewhat “average” presenter
43.9% Yes, I believe I’m a pretty “effective” presenter
10.5% No. I’m aware that my skills are not very strong
Not bad… if others think the same! In a similar question posed to 1,200 business professionals in the book, The Leader’s Voice, 86% believed they were effective communicators. Unfortunately, only 17% of their audiences agreed. Ouch. Not the same at all. It might be fair to say that presenters collectively suffer from a profound lack of self-awareness. So we were naturally curious.
In our survey, 10.5% thought they were “not strong” and the highest response, 45.5% saw themselves as just “average”. We tend to think that the bar for being an effective communicator today should be set a tad higher than just being “average”. What do you think?
What this means to you…
Let’s be honest, if you’re an average (or not quite) presenter these days, the chances of being heard and remembered are pretty unlikely. As we tell our clients, our years of experience continue to reinforce the fact that the world is not full of horrible presenters. Rather it’s full of very average ones. I’m not sure where you think you may fit, but if our 1st survey question reflects business communicator’s take on the importance of being a good presenter, being “average” most likely means your career, compensation or both have been adversely impacted.
To receive a copy of the entire survey, visit our website and sign up for our Mark of Distinction eNewsletter. All the results from the December 2009 Presentation Impact Survey will be in the March 2010 issue. Don’t miss it! You’ll also find a library of presentation-related podcasts, relevant blogs and articles.
