The Single Most Underrated Career Skill Ever Is #8230;

The Single Most Underrated Career Skill Ever Is 8230 PowerPoint. Im not kidding (It is a strange one, isnt it?)You probably thoughtit was going to something like initiative or creative thinking or interpersonal skills, didnt you?Let me explain.Im usingPowerPoint as a kind of shorthand. I am not really talking about how to bullet a list or bold a word. Im talking about something a little more.What Are PowerPoint Presentations, Really?PowerPoint is really just a tool.When we say PowerPoint today, we mean a presentation. And when we say a presentation, we usually dont mean public speaking. Who gives speeches at work other than the CEO? No, we mean a report, an update, a brief, or a summary.And by all of that, wemean a structured, written communication that combines words, data, and graphics.At the bottom of it all,what we talk about when we talk about PowerPointis ur value-add our ideas, our recomm endations, and our work in a form that is comprehensible.And that, for our careers, is the whole ball game. Without others seeing, understanding, and recognizing our value-add, our careers will be rather short.Great communication skills are the very foundation of career success.The Role of Communication Skills in Your SuccessCommunication is the core enabler of social enterprises like business.Being a poor communicator hinders your ability to be understood. It undermines your credibility and makes you less efficient. It even lessens your ability to lead after all, people do not follow those whom they dont understand.The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) conducted a survey in 2014 that asked hiring managers what skills they prioritize when they hire college graduates. The top five skills wereAbility to work in a teamAbility to write effectivelyAbility to solve problemsAbility to plan, organize and prioritize workAbility to work with numbers and dataWriting effect ively (2), solving problems (3), and working with numbers and data (5) are all central to strong communication.The Medium Is the MessageWritten business communication happens via business presentations. PowerPoint is the lingua franca of corporate America.PowerPoint has become how we communicate. We used to use typewritten, one-page memos. Now, we use graphs, tables, pictures, and color. We have adopted the convention of slides to structure our communication.Understanding how to communicate is no longer just about being able to write well although that remains critical or speak clearly. No, the bar has been raised considerably.Needed A Distinct Set of SkillsCreating a successful written presentation requires leveraging a broad group of very different skills, includingthe ability to think in a structured, logical mannerthe abilityto write concisely and clearlythe understanding of numbers and datathe ability to communicate data effectivelyand the appreciation for and ability to crea te greatdesigns.1. Structured ThinkingStructured thinking is the process of putting a framework around your ideas. It is an approach in which related detail are designed to support larger, more abstract arguments. Structuring your ideas can be very challenging for many people. It is difficult to do.2. Writing ConciselyOmit needless words. Be clear about what you wish to say. Simplify.3. Data and VisualizationDemonstrate dont justsimply assert. Use facts, and preferably data, to demonstrate. Show data with graphs, charts, and tables. Avoid pie charts.4. DesignSo many people get trapped by the task of designing a presentation.Usually, less is more.If you lack design skills, get yourself a professionally designed template from GraphicRiver or SlideHeroes.What Next?Many jobs require you to use PowerPoint ever day. Learn how to use the tool. Then, go beyond the tool and learn how to communicate powerfully.Learning to create great business presentations can take you a very, very long way. Creating great business presentations requires practice. Here are a few additional recommended resourcesThe Visual Display of Quantitative Information, by Edward TufteThe Pyramid Principle, by Barbara MintoThe Elements of Style, by William Strunk Jr.