Strong Words

By Christopher Schneider, Director, Membership & Business Development
Published March 20, 2018

There is an old Jerry Seinfeld joke that starts by citing a statistic that most people have a greater fear of public speaking than death. The punchline goes something like, “If you were asked to give a remembrance at a funeral service, statistically speaking, you would rather be in the coffin than behind the podium.” It's funny because of the element of truth to the inherent absurdity.

I also believe that the fear of speaking extends to most every setting. HR professionals regularly present to small groups, one-on-one with employees, at full staff meetings, during training days, and the list goes on. Frankly, I'm surprised that presentation skills and an aptitude for public speaking doesn’t show up more prominently in an HR manager’s job description.

You’ve also got to be versatile. In any given day you might present a training session in the morning, counsel an underperforming employee right after lunch, and finish the day explaining turnover metrics to senior leadership. All are important messages, all require a slightly different skill set, and there is plenty to fear. A common misconception is that if you speak often enough, you will become accustomed to it and it will get easier.  Perhaps you can become accustomed to the fear, but speaking to a group and delivering a message that is clear, concise and convincing is never easy. If it were simple, would you ever catch yourself rehearsing for a conversation in your car on the way to work?

Luckily, we have an opportunity for improvement and a chance to hone your skills. Our next free member event focuses on the stomach-churning, sweat-inducing art of communication in the workplace. We’ve got delicious food, amazing speakers, and a great couple hours of quality content to fortify you for the conversations, presentations and speeches lying ahead. Join us for Strong Words on Thursday, April 26, 2018 at the Management Association offices in Downers Grove.