From our experiences in communication coaching, we can say, undeniably, that communication is 80% of the battle when it comes to boosting income, getting new opportunities, and opening doors.

Your intelligence, your resume, and your skill set are all important as “first impressions.” But at the end of the day, if you’re not engaging and convincing when you communicate, you can bet you won’t get very far.

Unfortunately, far too many professionals take this important skill for granted. They focus more on developing their hard skills, on perfecting their work, and on looking good “on paper.”

We’ve had more communication coaching clients than we can count who have been incredibly smart.  Above average intelligence and drive, but who just aren’t where they want to be in their careers. And guess what? The common thread has been communication and public speaking. They lacked the confidence in their communication, and it impacted both their performance and fulfillment at work.

A recent client of ours was a woman in her 50s, who felt she had reached a ceiling in terms of her career. This wasn’t gender-related in her eyes, though.  She had had multiple bosses, male and female, over the last few years.  None of them seemed to like her, despite her exemplary work as a researcher. They didn’t want to fund her projects, and they didn’t want to promote her to lead a larger team. She felt stuck where she was, with little understanding of how she could improve. She knew it had to do with her communication skills, but she had no idea how to improve them.

What we explain to all our clients is that the goal is not just to show your expertise. It’s also to be “likable.”

Very often, intelligent people are introverts, which can come off as arrogance. Or, they can be overly extroverted, talking too much. These types of behaviors can make people around them, including their supervisors, feel insecure and threatened. That was a big part of what was happening with my client. And that is the opposite effect you want to have if you’re trying to move up in your career.

In the society we live in more than in others, people want to feel comfortable with you. They want to trust you. They want to enjoy working with you. That’s the whole point of the “interview” portion of hiring.

So being seen as both likable and highly able in communication is of paramount importance in today’s world of work. Whether it’s for an interview, business presentation, or just for small talk in the elevator(you’d be surprised how anxious this makes people!), communication skill building is WORTH THE INVESTMENT AND TIME.

Working with a communication coach alone can help you find your long-lost confidence in yourself, give you the exact feedback you need to hear (but no one will tell you to your face), and provide you the exercises and tools you need to transform your impact on others.

Don’t take your communication for granted and hold back your true potential anymore. Learn how to express your ideas clearly, authentically, and persuasively to reach new heights in your career and relationships.