Skip to main content

Career advancement minute: Developing persuasive communication

February 22, 2013

Beth McManus L’04, Associate Director for Professional Development, talks about developing developing persuasion strategies.

Successful advocacy requires persuasive communication. No matter what career path you choose, you will likely be called upon to present facts in a clear, concise, and persuasive matter, to audiences both large and small. Beth McManus L’04, Associate Director for Professional Development, talks about developing developing persuasion strategies.

 

Transcript

The ability to communicate in a persuasive way is a critical skill no matter what you want to do in life or what your career goals are. You want to be able to speak clearly and in a way that helps influence others to see things the way that you are seeing them.

There is a misconception that persuasive communication skills are innate, you have them or you don’t. But, in reality, being an excellent communicator is something you can practice and get better at over time. So, you really should seize every opportunity available to become a better communicator. If there is a formal workshop, take it. Take any chance you have to speak in public and to learn the art of good communication skills. But even just practicing with your friends can be helpful. Ultimately, being a persuasive communicator is really a critical skill and a true key to success and you should try to get better if you can.   

Transcript edited for length.