Johannesburg, 12 Nov 2004
The most important attributes of a CEO are interpersonal skills coupled with the ability to influence with integrity.
This is according to 44% of the corporate leaders interviewed in benchmark international studies conducted by Korn/Ferry International. A further 41% of CEOs and corporate leaders interviewed believed management skills to be the top qualification required by C-level executives.
"While most executives can communicate, presentation and interpersonal skills are an acquired ability," says Jenny Senneck, people development manager of The People Business - People Development (TPB-PD). "Due to a lack of these skills, executives suffer business losses quantified as 4% of sales. Acquiring this leadership competency is critical to their career advancement and growth of their business."
The Korn/Ferry International research involved more than 200 international executives with countrywide or regional responsibility for global companies. "In SA, the statistics are similar based on research we conducted with our clients," says Senneck.
The Business Almanac states that presenting to a group of people is the number one fear of any person within business. Most people fear presenting in public more than they fear drowning or death, it states. "Along with negotiation and conflict handling skills, effective presentation skills can assist you in gaining the support of your colleagues, peers and clients," says Senneck.
She relates a recent example of an executive at one of TPB-PD`s clients - a large financial institution. He had an extreme phobia of presenting and communicating in front of an audience due to a bad experience some 20 years earlier. After completing the presentation skills programme and confronting his fear in a safe environment of a training room, and with the guidance and techniques from Senneck, he overcame his fear and is now able to present and communicate with confidence in front of groups of people.
Says Senneck: "You need to change the attitude of `I hate presenting` to one of `This is a skill I will master and enjoy the process as it happens`. Once we have adjusted our attitudes, we have space to learn and grow.
"Ensure you have the skills necessary to be an outstanding presenter. These include confidence, articulation, projecting professionalism and an ability to structure content to get the message across. We have no idea how we look up in front, until we see it for ourselves. So, practise in front of a mirror, or video yourself and then do a self-assessment on exactly how influential and confident you do look. Are you proud and happy with what you see? If not, seek help!"
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