excellent presentation skills synonyms

10 Other Ways to Say “Good Communication Skills” on Your Resume (with Examples)

Are you looking for impactful ways to demonstrate your stellar communication abilities on your resume or CV, without simply listing “good communication skills” under your skills section?

As someone who has reviewed hundreds of resumes throughout my career as a hiring manager, I can tell you that explicitly stating “good communication skills” doesn’t do much to show me that you have them. But featuring concrete examples of how you’ve applied communication abilities in past roles? Now that catches my eye.

In this blog post, I’ll highlight 10 techniques you can use on your resume/CV to exhibit your verbal, written, interpersonal, and public speaking skills, without ever directly saying “good communication skills.” From highlighting presentations you’ve developed to showcasing rapport-building with colleagues, these examples will help hiring managers immediately recognize your knack for successful communication.

So if you’re ready to refresh your resume and demonstrate, not tell, about your standout communication talents, read on!

Is “Good Communication Skills” a Good CV/Resume Word?

At first glance, “good communication skills” may seem like a strong resume keyword to include. However, simply listing this generic term does little to showcase your abilities . Instead, it’s more impactful to demonstrate communication skills through concrete examples .

For team-oriented or customer-facing roles especially, use your resume to highlight instances of successful communication . For example, quantifying presentations delivered, meetings led, or rapport built with colleagues powerfully proves you can connect with audiences.

Remember, communication is less about buzzwords and more about displaying versatility. Showcase instances of adjusting your style for diverse settings or mediums. Use active verbs to compel rather than merely tell.

The bottom line? Don’t just say you have communication skills. Prove it through stand-out resume examples that emphasize you are a nuanced, adept communicator ready to engage audiences in any role.

As we go further in this article, we’ll explore more compelling “good communication skills” alternatives or synonyms to highlight your verbal, written, interpersonal, and public speaking talents. You’ll learn powerful verbs and specific instances that exhibit sophistication as a communicator.

We’ve provided actionable tips and tailored examples to help you showcase communication excellence. Avoid resume buzzwords and learn how to exhibit nuance, versatility, and resonance as a communicator.

What to Say Instead of “Good Communication Skills” on a Resume or CV

• Articulate and persuasive communicator
• Masterful storyteller and presenter
• Adaptable communicator, tailoring messages for diverse audiences
• Collaborative communicator, building strong relationships and fostering teamwork
• Active listener and constructive feedback provider
• Engaging public speaker and captivating storyteller
• Dynamic writer, crafting compelling content for various mediums
• Culturally aware communicator, navigating diverse audiences and contexts
• Confident presenter, delivering impactful messages with clarity and poise
• Strategic communicator, aligning messages with audience needs and goals

Key Takeaways:

• Show, don’t tell:  Instead of simply stating you have “good communication skills,” use action verbs and specific examples to demonstrate your abilities in different situations. Start your sentences with “I am a…” to personalize and actively showcase your communication prowess.
• Tailor your language:  Consider the specific role and industry you’re applying to when choosing synonyms and phrasing your examples. Highlight skills relevant to the position and avoid overly generic statements.
• Go beyond “communication skills”:  Emphasize specific aspects of communication you excel in, such as active listening, storytelling, cultural awareness, or content writing. This showcases your unique strengths and versatility.
• Focus on impact:  Don’t just describe your actions, quantify the results of your communication efforts. Mention increased engagement, achieved buy-in, or improved performance to demonstrate the value you bring.
• Be concise and confident:  While providing specific examples, keep your resume entries brief and impactful. Use strong verbs and positive language to project confidence in your communication abilities.

Enhance your resume with impactful synonyms for “good communication skills.” We’ll explore the best options and help you use them effectively to showcase your communication strengths and shine in interviews.

1. Articulate and persuasive communicator

Pros: Concise, highlights both verbal and written skills , emphasizes ability to convince others.

Cons: Might sound less impactful than “excellent,” which could be interpreted as mainly focused on persuasion.

Example: I am an “ Articulate and persuasive communicator with a proven ability to present complex ideas to diverse audiences and win buy-in for new initiatives.”

2. Masterful storyteller and presenter

Pros: Emphasizes ability to engage audiences, and showcases creative communication skills.

Cons: Might not be suitable for all roles, and could be perceived as overly dramatic for some contexts.

Example: I am a “ Masterful storyteller and presenter , skilled at weaving data, anecdotes, and visuals into compelling narratives that captivate audiences and drive action.”

3. Adaptable communicator, tailoring messages for diverse audiences

Pros: Highlights versatility and cultural sensitivity , valuable in today’s globalized workplaces.

Cons: Less concise than other options, might not be relevant for all roles.

Example: I am an “ Adaptable communicator, tailoring messages for diverse audiences , with experience crafting presentations for technical experts, executive boards, and the general public.”

4. Collaborative communicator, building strong relationships and fostering teamwork

Pros: Emphasizes interpersonal skills, valuable for team-based roles and leadership positions.

Cons: Might not be as relevant for roles focused on individual communication.

Example: “ Collaborative communicator, building strong relationships and fostering teamwork , adept at facilitating discussions, resolving conflicts, and achieving consensus among diverse groups.”

5. Active listener and constructive feedback provider

Pros: Highlights ability to listen effectively and provide helpful feedback, crucial for personal and professional growth.

Cons: Focuses on one specific aspect of communication, might not be the most impactful choice.

Example: I am an “ Active listener and constructive feedback provider , skilled at drawing out ideas from others, offering actionable feedback that leads to improved performance.”

6. Engaging public speaker and captivating storyteller

Pros: Similar to “Masterful storyteller,” but emphasizes public speaking skills specifically.

Cons: Might not be relevant for roles with limited public speaking requirements.

Example: I am an “ Engaging public speaker and captivating storyteller , with experience delivering presentations to audiences of all sizes, from small team meetings to industry conferences.”

7. Dynamic writer, crafting compelling content for various mediums

Pros: Highlights versatility in writing skills, important for content creation and marketing roles.

Cons: Might not be as relevant for roles with limited writing requirements.

Example: I am a “ Dynamic writer, crafting compelling content for various mediums , including blog posts, website copy, social media content, and email campaigns, with a proven track record of driving engagement and conversions .”

8. Culturally aware communicator, navigating diverse audiences and contexts

Pros: Similar to “ Adaptable communicator, ” but emphasizes cultural awareness specifically.

Cons: Might not be relevant for roles with limited interaction with diverse audiences.

Example: I am a “ Culturally aware communicator, navigating diverse audiences and contexts , with experience working effectively in multicultural teams and communicating across language and cultural barriers.”

9. Confident presenter, delivering impactful messages with clarity and poise

Pros: Highlights public speaking skills and ability to command attention.

Cons: Might sound less specific than other options, similar to “ Confident public presence .”

Example: I am a “ Confident presenter, delivering impactful messages with clarity and poise , comfortable speaking in front of large audiences and tailoring presentations to diverse needs.”

10. Strategic communicator, aligning messages with audience needs and goals

Pros: Emphasizes ability to tailor communication for specific objectives.

Cons: Might sound less approachable than other options, focusing more on strategy than personality.

Example: I am a “ Strategic communicator, aligning messages with audience needs and goals , with experience developing targeted communication plans that resonate with specific audiences and drive desired outcomes.”

Any Parting words?

Achieving communication excellence is about much more than just saying you have “good communication skills.” By now, you have a toolbox of compelling techniques to showcase your sophistication.

To recap, avoid resume buzzwords and generic claims. Opt for active verbs and tailored examples that bring your abilities to life. Highlight nuance by showcasing adjustments across diverse contexts. Emphasize achievements by strategically formatting key items.

Follow these tips, and your resume will reveal the depth of your communication talents . Hiring managers will immediately recognize your ability to connect with any audience, adjust your style, articulate complex information, and represent your organization powerfully.

So next time your resume needs updating, skip the nebulous claims. Showcase your communication skills strategically through the many avenues we’ve covered today. You’ll convey true excellence as a communicator while making your resume stand out.

The examples and alternatives provided equip you with everything needed to express your communication capabilities persuasively. Now it’s time to put these strategies into action as you present your most compelling resume yet.

Related Posts:

Ideas and insights from Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning

Powerful and Effective Presentation Skills: More in Demand Now Than Ever

When we talk with our L&D colleagues from around the globe, we often hear that presentation skills training is one of the top opportunities they’re looking to provide their learners. And this holds true whether their learners are individual contributors, people managers, or senior leaders. This is not surprising.

Effective communications skills are a powerful career activator, and most of us are called upon to communicate in some type of formal presentation mode at some point along the way.

For instance, you might be asked to brief management on market research results, walk your team through a new process, lay out the new budget, or explain a new product to a client or prospect. Or you may want to build support for a new idea, bring a new employee into the fold, or even just present your achievements to your manager during your performance review.

And now, with so many employees working from home or in hybrid mode, and business travel in decline, there’s a growing need to find new ways to make effective presentations when the audience may be fully virtual or a combination of in person and remote attendees.

Whether you’re making a standup presentation to a large live audience, or a sit-down one-on-one, whether you’re delivering your presentation face to face or virtually, solid presentation skills matter.

Even the most seasoned and accomplished presenters may need to fine-tune or update their skills. Expectations have changed over the last decade or so. Yesterday’s PowerPoint which primarily relied on bulleted points, broken up by the occasional clip-art image, won’t cut it with today’s audience.

The digital revolution has revolutionized the way people want to receive information. People expect presentations that are more visually interesting. They expect to see data, metrics that support assertions. And now, with so many previously in-person meetings occurring virtually, there’s an entirely new level of technical preparedness required.

The leadership development tools and the individual learning opportunities you’re providing should include presentation skills training that covers both the evergreen fundamentals and the up-to-date capabilities that can make or break a presentation.

So, just what should be included in solid presentation skills training? Here’s what I think.

The fundamentals will always apply When it comes to making a powerful and effective presentation, the fundamentals will always apply. You need to understand your objective. Is it strictly to convey information, so that your audience’s knowledge is increased? Is it to persuade your audience to take some action? Is it to convince people to support your idea? Once you understand what your objective is, you need to define your central message. There may be a lot of things you want to share with your audience during your presentation, but find – and stick with – the core, the most important point you want them to walk away with. And make sure that your message is clear and compelling.

You also need to tailor your presentation to your audience. Who are they and what might they be expecting? Say you’re giving a product pitch to a client. A technical team may be interested in a lot of nitty-gritty product detail. The business side will no doubt be more interested in what returns they can expect on their investment.

Another consideration is the setting: is this a formal presentation to a large audience with questions reserved for the end, or a presentation in a smaller setting where there’s the possibility for conversation throughout? Is your presentation virtual or in-person? To be delivered individually or as a group? What time of the day will you be speaking? Will there be others speaking before you and might that impact how your message will be received?

Once these fundamentals are established, you’re in building mode. What are the specific points you want to share that will help you best meet your objective and get across your core message? Now figure out how to convey those points in the clearest, most straightforward, and succinct way. This doesn’t mean that your presentation has to be a series of clipped bullet points. No one wants to sit through a presentation in which the presenter reads through what’s on the slide. You can get your points across using stories, fact, diagrams, videos, props, and other types of media.

Visual design matters While you don’t want to clutter up your presentation with too many visual elements that don’t serve your objective and can be distracting, using a variety of visual formats to convey your core message will make your presentation more memorable than slides filled with text. A couple of tips: avoid images that are cliched and overdone. Be careful not to mix up too many different types of images. If you’re using photos, stick with photos. If you’re using drawn images, keep the style consistent. When data are presented, stay consistent with colors and fonts from one type of chart to the next. Keep things clear and simple, using data to support key points without overwhelming your audience with too much information. And don’t assume that your audience is composed of statisticians (unless, of course, it is).

When presenting qualitative data, brief videos provide a way to engage your audience and create emotional connection and impact. Word clouds are another way to get qualitative data across.

Practice makes perfect You’ve pulled together a perfect presentation. But it likely won’t be perfect unless it’s well delivered. So don’t forget to practice your presentation ahead of time. Pro tip: record yourself as you practice out loud. This will force you to think through what you’re going to say for each element of your presentation. And watching your recording will help you identify your mistakes—such as fidgeting, using too many fillers (such as “umm,” or “like”), or speaking too fast.

A key element of your preparation should involve anticipating any technical difficulties. If you’ve embedded videos, make sure they work. If you’re presenting virtually, make sure that the lighting is good, and that your speaker and camera are working. Whether presenting in person or virtually, get there early enough to work out any technical glitches before your presentation is scheduled to begin. Few things are a bigger audience turn-off than sitting there watching the presenter struggle with the delivery mechanisms!

Finally, be kind to yourself. Despite thorough preparation and practice, sometimes, things go wrong, and you need to recover in the moment, adapt, and carry on. It’s unlikely that you’ll have caused any lasting damage and the important thing is to learn from your experience, so your next presentation is stronger.

How are you providing presentation skills training for your learners?

Manika Gandhi is Senior Learning Design Manager at Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning. Email her at [email protected] .

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6 presentation skills and how to improve them

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What are presentation skills?

The importance of presentation skills, 6 presentation skills examples, how to improve presentation skills.

Tips for dealing with presentation anxiety

Learn how to captivate an audience with ease

Capturing an audience’s attention takes practice. 

Over time, great presenters learn how to organize their speeches and captivate an audience from start to finish. They spark curiosity, know how to read a room , and understand what their audience needs to walk away feeling like they learned something valuable.

Regardless of your profession, you most likely use presentation skills on a monthly or even weekly basis. Maybe you lead brainstorming sessions or host client calls. 

Developing effective presentation skills makes it easier to contribute ideas with confidence and show others you’re someone to trust. Although speaking in front of a crowd sometimes brings nerves and anxiety , it also sparks new opportunities.

Presentation skills are the qualities and abilities you need to communicate ideas effectively and deliver a compelling speech. They influence how you structure a presentation and how an audience receives it. Understanding body language , creating impactful visual aids, and projecting your voice all fall under this umbrella.

A great presentation depends on more than what you say. It’s about how you say it. Storytelling , stage presence, and voice projection all shape how well you express your ideas and connect with the audience. These skills do take practice, but they’re worth developing — especially if public speaking makes you nervous. 

Engaging a crowd isn’t easy. You may feel anxious to step in front of an audience and have all eyes and ears on you.

But feeling that anxiety doesn’t mean your ideas aren’t worth sharing. Whether you’re giving an inspiring speech or delivering a monthly recap at work, your audience is there to listen to you. Harness that nervous energy and turn it into progress.

Strong presentation skills make it easier to convey your thoughts to audiences of all sizes. They can help you tell a compelling story, convince people of a pitch , or teach a group something entirely new to them. And when it comes to the workplace, the strength of your presentation skills could play a part in getting a promotion or contributing to a new initiative.

To fully understand the impact these skills have on creating a successful presentation, it’s helpful to look at each one individually. Here are six valuable skills you can develop:

1. Active listening

Active listening is an excellent communication skill for any professional to hone. When you have strong active listening skills, you can listen to others effectively and observe their nonverbal cues . This helps you assess whether or not your audience members are engaged in and understand what you’re sharing. 

Great public speakers use active listening to assess the audience’s reactions and adjust their speech if they find it lacks impact. Signs like slouching, negative facial expressions, and roaming eye contact are all signs to watch out for when giving a presentation.

2. Body language

If you’re researching presentation skills, chances are you’ve already watched a few notable speeches like TED Talks or industry seminars. And one thing you probably noticed is that speakers can capture attention with their body language. 

A mixture of eye contact, hand gestures , and purposeful pacing makes a presentation more interesting and engaging. If you stand in one spot and don’t move your body, the audience might zone out.

3. Stage presence

A great stage presence looks different for everyone. A comedian might aim for more movement and excitement, and a conference speaker might focus their energy on the content of their speech. Although neither is better than the other, both understand their strengths and their audience’s needs. 

Developing a stage presence involves finding your own unique communication style . Lean into your strengths, whether that’s adding an injection of humor or asking questions to make it interactive . To give a great presentation, you might even incorporate relevant props or presentation slides.

4. Storytelling

According to Forbes, audiences typically pay attention for about 10 minutes before tuning out . But you can lengthen their attention span by offering a presentation that interests them for longer. Include a narrative they’ll want to listen to, and tell a story as you go along. 

Shaping your content to follow a clear narrative can spark your audience’s curiosity and entice them to pay careful attention. You can use anecdotes from your personal or professional life that take your audience along through relevant moments. If you’re pitching a product, you can start with a problem and lead your audience through the stages of how your product provides a solution.

5. Voice projection

Although this skill may be obvious, you need your audience to hear what you’re saying. This can be challenging if you’re naturally soft-spoken and struggle to project your voice.

Remember to straighten your posture and take deep breaths before speaking, which will help you speak louder and fill the room. If you’re talking into a microphone or participating in a virtual meeting, you can use your regular conversational voice, but you still want to sound confident and self-assured with a strong tone.

If you’re unsure whether everyone can hear you, you can always ask the audience at the beginning of your speech and wait for confirmation. That way, they won’t have to potentially interrupt you later.

Ensuring everyone can hear you also includes your speed and annunciation. It’s easy to speak quickly when nervous, but try to slow down and pronounce every word. Mumbling can make your presentation difficult to understand and pay attention to.

6. Verbal communication 

Although verbal communication involves your projection and tone, it also covers the language and pacing you use to get your point across. This includes where you choose to place pauses in your speech or the tone you use to emphasize important ideas.

If you’re giving a presentation on collaboration in the workplace , you might start your speech by saying, “There’s something every workplace needs to succeed: teamwork.” By placing emphasis on the word “ teamwork ,” you give your audience a hint on what ideas will follow.

To further connect with your audience through diction, pay careful attention to who you’re speaking to. The way you talk to your colleagues might be different from how you speak to a group of superiors, even if you’re discussing the same subject. You might use more humor and a conversational tone for the former and more serious, formal diction for the latter.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses when it comes to presenting. Maybe you’re confident in your use of body language, but your voice projection needs work. Maybe you’re a great storyteller in small group settings, but need to work on your stage presence in front of larger crowds. 

The first step to improving presentation skills is pinpointing your gaps and determining which qualities to build upon first. Here are four tips for enhancing your presentation skills:

1. Build self-confidence

Confident people know how to speak with authority and share their ideas. Although feeling good about your presentation skills is easier said than done, building confidence is key to helping your audience believe in what you’re saying. Try practicing positive self-talk and continuously researching your topic's ins and outs.

If you don’t feel confident on the inside, fake it until you make it. Stand up straight, project your voice, and try your best to appear engaged and excited. Chances are, the audience doesn’t know you’re unsure of your skills — and they don’t need to.

Another tip is to lean into your slideshow, if you’re using one. Create something colorful and interesting so the audience’s eyes fall there instead of on you. And when you feel proud of your slideshow, you’ll be more eager to share it with others, bringing more energy to your presentation.

2. Watch other presentations

Developing the soft skills necessary for a good presentation can be challenging without seeing them in action. Watch as many as possible to become more familiar with public speaking skills and what makes a great presentation. You could attend events with keynote speakers or view past speeches on similar topics online.

Take a close look at how those presenters use verbal communication and body language to engage their audiences. Grab a notebook and jot down what you enjoyed and your main takeaways. Try to recall the techniques they used to emphasize their main points, whether they used pauses effectively, had interesting visual aids, or told a fascinating story.

3. Get in front of a crowd

You don’t need a large auditorium to practice public speaking. There are dozens of other ways to feel confident and develop good presentation skills.

If you’re a natural comedian, consider joining a small stand-up comedy club. If you’re an avid writer, participate in a public poetry reading. Even music and acting can help you feel more comfortable in front of a crowd.

If you’d rather keep it professional, you can still work on your presentation skills in the office. Challenge yourself to participate at least once in every team meeting, or plan and present a project to become more comfortable vocalizing your ideas. You could also speak to your manager about opportunities that flex your public speaking abilities.

4. Overcome fear

Many people experience feelings of fear before presenting in front of an audience, whether those feelings appear as a few butterflies or more severe anxiety. Try grounding yourself to shift your focus to the present moment. If you’re stuck dwelling on previous experiences that didn’t go well, use those mistakes as learning experiences and focus on what you can improve to do better in the future.

Tips for dealing with presentation anxiety 

It’s normal to feel nervous when sharing your ideas. In fact, according to a report from the Journal of Graduate Medical Education, public speaking anxiety is prevalent in 15–30% of the general population .

Even though having a fear of public speaking is common, it doesn’t make it easier. You might feel overwhelmed, become stiff, and forget what you were going to say. But although the moment might scare you, there are ways to overcome the fear and put mind over matter.

Use these tactics to reduce your stress when you have to make a presentation:

1. Practice breathing techniques

If you experience anxiety often, you’re probably familiar with breathing techniques for stress relief . Incorporating these exercises into your daily routine can help you stop worrying and regulate anxious feelings. 

Before a big presentation, take a moment alone to practice breathing techniques, ground yourself, and reduce tension. It’s also a good idea to take breaths throughout the presentation to speak slower and calm yourself down .

2. Get organized

The more organized you are, the more prepared you’ll feel. Carefully outline all of the critical information you want to use in your presentation, including your main talking points and visual aids, so you don’t forget anything. Use bullet points and visuals on each slide to remind you of what you want to talk about, and create handheld notes to help you stay on track.

3. Embrace moments of silence

It’s okay to lose your train of thought. It happens to even the most experienced public speakers once in a while. If your mind goes blank, don’t panic. Take a moment to breathe, gather your thoughts, and refer to your notes to see where you left off. You can drink some water or make a quick joke to ease the silence or regain your footing. And it’s okay to say, “Give me a moment while I find my notes.” Chances are, people understand the position you’re in.

4. Practice makes progress

Before presenting, rehearse in front of friends and family members you trust. This gives you the chance to work out any weak spots in your speech and become comfortable communicating out loud. If you want to go the extra mile, ask your makeshift audience to ask a surprise question. This tests your on-the-spot thinking and will prove that you can keep cool when things come up.

Whether you’re new to public speaking or are a seasoned presenter, you’re bound to make a few slip-ups. It happens to everyone. The most important thing is that you try your best, brush things off, and work on improving your skills to do better in your next presentation.

Although your job may require a different level of public speaking than your favorite TED Talk , developing presentation skills is handy in any profession. You can use presentation skills in a wide range of tasks in the workplace, whether you’re sharing your ideas with colleagues, expressing concerns to higher-ups, or pitching strategies to potential clients.

Remember to use active listening to read the room and engage your audience with an interesting narrative. Don’t forget to step outside your comfort zone once in a while and put your skills to practice in front of a crowd. After facing your fears, you’ll feel confident enough to put presentation skills on your resume.

If you’re trying to build your skills and become a better employee overall, try a communications coach with BetterUp. 

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Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

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What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

• Carmine Gallo

Five tips to set yourself apart.

Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. But while there are plenty of good speakers in the world, you can set yourself apart out by being the person who can deliver something great over and over. Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired together are more memorable); don’t underestimate the power of your voice (raise and lower it for emphasis); give your audience something extra (unexpected moments will grab their attention); rehearse (the best speakers are the best because they practice — a lot).

I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.

• Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of 10 books translated into 40 languages. Gallo is the author of The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman  (St. Martin’s Press).

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7 Better Ways To Say “Communication Skills” On Your CV

“Communication skills” can be a very broad term. It can also be overused, to the point where many employers won’t care much about reading it. So, we want to make sure our CVs stand out from the crowd. This article will show you better alternatives for “communication skills.”

What Can I Say Instead Of “Communication Skills” On My CV?

There are a few really good ways to list that you have “communication skills” in your CV. Rather than those two simple words, try one of these:

• Excellent written and verbal skills
• Articulate and professional speaking abilities
• Empathic listener and persuasive speaker
• Creative writing skills
• Factual writing skills
• Plenty of experience speaking in public
• Excellent presentation and negotiation skills

The preferred version is “excellent written and verbal skills.” This phrase works well because it’s less general than “communication skills.” It allows us to highlight exactly where our skills lie, and we can usually give examples from that to aid our CV further.

Excellent Written And Verbal Skills

“Excellent written and verbal skills” works really well when we want to impress people with our communication skills. Rather than keeping it simple, we use more specific language to show that we can write and speak very well. Often, it helps to give examples for this.

Like many other things in your CV, it helps to provide relevant information. Simply saying you have “excellent written and verbal skills” may not be enough.

Instead, you should make sure to include things that you’ve done that have led you to such skills. For example, if you’ve studied for years at college , you might have picked up these skills. Similarly, you might have got them from a job that had you working the phones all day.

There are plenty of different ways we can get these skills. It would turn your CV into a much more appetizing read for your employer if you can find a good way to list the skills you’ve achieved and where they’ve come from.

Check out some examples to help you understand it better:

• I have developed excellent written and verbal skills from my time working in the office and manning the phones.
• My excellent written and verbal skills have gotten me far in my previous career, and I wish to take it further with you.
• I have excellent written and verbal skills. I attribute these to my time as a customer assistant in my local grocery store.

Articulate And Professional Speaking Abilities

“Articulate and professional speaking abilities” is another great way to specify your communication skills. This time, we’re focusing on our ability to speak. “Articulate” means we do not mumble and are clear, which is ideal for many workers in many industries.

You can use this phrase in the same way as we mentioned above. Make sure that you always include reasons why you have achieved these skills. That will always set your CV one above the rest of every other CV that an employer reads.

Using this is a good way of showing that you are a good speaker. These skills will be translatable to almost any job, though it will definitely benefit you if you’re going into an industry that will rely on your speaking abilities.

Here are a few examples to show you how it works:

• I am an articulate and professional speaker. I have achieved these abilities through my time presenting business meetings to the board.
• I have articulate and professional speaking abilities from practicing my acting skills at my local school.
• The articulate and professional speaking abilities I have achieved from this workplace are unlike any others.

Empathic Listener And Persuasive Speaker

“Empathic listener and persuasive speaker” is yet another way to highlight more specific communication skills. This time, we are showing an employer that we’re particularly good at having conversations. This is a desirable trait for management candidates.

If a manager can listen well to their employees and speak in ways that will persuade others, they’ll have an easy time doing whatever their job is. That’s why these kinds of skills are highly sought after by most of the industry.

Again, make sure you clarify where these skills come from. It’s easy to pretend you have skills that don’t apply to you in a CV, and employers expect that. If you can prove where they came from, you’ll be putting yourself in a much better position.

Check out these examples to see how it works:

• I am an empathic listener and persuasive speaker. I have managed three teams already where I picked up on these skills.
• I am an empathic listener and persuasive speaker because I spend a lot of time talking to others to make sure they are keeping their morale high.
• I think of myself as an empathic listener and persuasive speaker and have proved this time and again in various business encounters.

Creative Writing Skills

“Creative writing skills” is a little more simple than some of the others. It doesn’t require any real stretches, as long as you have the ability to think creatively and write skillful stories based on this. While these skills aren’t useful everywhere, they can still get you great jobs.

Creativity is one of the most desirable traits you can find in a candidate. Someone who is able to think outside the box and come up with fresh, new solutions will always be prime for hiring.

That’s why using “creative writing skills” is a great way to show how you think. Many employers in creative industries (or ones that heavily rely on problem-solving ) will look to you as their solution in the hiring process.

You can use it as follows :

• I have developed many creative writing skills and have managed to publish three books under my name.
• The creative writing skills I have developed from my English degree prove that I’m able to think about abstract ideas at a moment’s notice.
• I pride myself on my creative writing skills, which I have developed over a long career writing children’s books.

Factual Writing Skills

“Factual writing skills” are similar to those we mentioned above. However, this time, we are talking about researching facts and figures and writing them down in a concise way that appeals to readers. This is an entirely different skill that can be useful to employers.

Using this phrase will prove to an employer that you’re good at research. It also shows that you’re capable of going out of your way to finding the answer to questions that other people might not know.

We can use this phrase in the following ways:

• I have developed many writing skills based on factual evidence that I’ve studied over my years in the industry.
• The factual writing skills I have acquired from the university course are unparalleled.
• I have many factual writing skills and have even published a research paper detailing all there is to know about this topic.

Plenty Of Experience Speaking In Public

“Plenty of experience speaking in public” is a great skill because “public speaking” is often overlooked. In fact, many people are fearful of public speaking. If you can show that you are not scared of it in a few seconds on your CV, you’ll stand out from the crowd.

“Speaking in public” isn’t something that comes up in every job. However, if you are intending to apply for jobs that might have important meetings in front of a large group of people, you might find that you’ll stand out with a skill like this.

Even if the above situation isn’t the case, you can still list this skill. Many people will look at a skill like this and be impressed even if there isn’t much public speaking available in the job description.

Check out these examples to see them in action:

• I have plenty of experience speaking in public because I was on the school’s debate team.
• I have delivered thirteen different meetings with former companies , and I have plenty of experience speaking in public because of this.
• I have plenty of experience speaking in public because of my time as a presenter in the local theater.

Excellent Presentation And Negotiation Skills

“Excellent presentation and negotiation skills” is one more trait we want to cover. Again, it’s a slightly more specific way of using “communication skills.” This time, we use “presentation” and “negotiation” to highlight very particular skills that can be useful.

Typically, skills like this will be useful to mention in industries where “negotiation” is common. Anywhere where you may need to argue down prices or fight to keep customers on board is a great way to show off this skill set.

These examples will help you understand how it works:

• I have excellent presentation and negotiation skills because of my time working in this industry.
• My excellent presentation and negotiation skills will set me above the rest, and you will find all the things I have done related to this enclosed.
• I have excellent presentation and negotiation skills. Both of which I’m sure you will find particularly useful for this role.

You may also like: 12 Better Ways To Say “Passionate About” In A Cover Letter 10 Words For “Back-and-Forth Communication” 11 Professional Synonyms For “People Person” On Your Resumé 10 Good Synonyms For “Point Of Contact” On Your Resumé

Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here .

• 8 Words For Someone Who Is Good With Words
• “Years of Experience” or “Years’ Experience”: Correct Version
• 5 Better Words For “Extensive Experience” On Your CV
• “Hands-On Experience” – 4 Better Alternatives To Use In Your Resume

Presentation Skills: 50 Tips & Examples to Improve Yours

If you’re looking for practical strategies that you can use on your presentation today, then you’ll love this article.

Inside, you’ll get access to:

– A presentation skills “checklist” infographic – A complete guide breaking down proven strategies, word-for-word formulas, expert tips and examples to help you dramatically improve your presentation skills

But first, I’d like to start with a very quick, 3-point introduction.

(Hint: when you finish reading it, you’ll know why presentation skills are crucial to your success).

There are three tiny things you need to know about presentation skills before we jump into strategies and tactics:

1) What are presentation skills?

Presentation skills are your ability one to deliver presentations that educate, engage, or entertain your audience.

2) Why we give presentations

According to the california state university employee development center , we usually of give presentations to:, inform persuade educate, for instance:, inform -> “abc engineering: q4 sales results” persuade -> “xyz marketing: how we help you x3 your conversions” educate -> “10 advanced seo techniques from the pros”, 3) why bad presentation skills have hidden costs, it’s because they’re the difference between getting what you want (educating people, persuading them to do something, closing a deal, etc)…., …or nothing at all., let me give you an example: a prospective client, let’s call him joe, schedules a meeting with your company because he’s looking for an agency that will handle his yearly event activities., the current supplier isn’t up to par so joe wants to find a new company to make events that help him look good and bring more traffic to his store., joe has an annual budget of  $100,000 dollars (not bad, eh). you get in the meeting room. you make your presentation., “we are a professional team of event experts”., it’s about you, your history, services, clients you used to work with, and some case studies., joe is feeling a bit bored because you’re not actually showing him what you can do to help him design better events.  you’re not tying your services to specific benefits he’s looking for (like increasing his customer footfall by 20% within 3 months)., basically , your pitch is bad., wanna know what happens next, joe is going to meet with other event agencies that know how to sell themselves and communicate on the value they’re bringing to the table., he’ll chose the best one., the one that solves his problems., the one that is best positioned to help him get what he wants ., and it won’t be you., he’ll be thinking “if that guy can’t put a solid pitch together, he won’t be able to handle my events in a way that satisfies me”., you lost 100,000 bucks., the lesson here, good presentation skills are the difference between getting what you want, or nothing at all., 50 proven ways to dramatically improve your presentation skills, click here to enlarge, lay out the foundations, 1. anticipate. seriously., [tweet “if your presentation is important to you, then act like it is.”], when i asked ed from clear preso what was his #1 advice for improving presentation skills, here’s what he said:, “do not leave it till the last minute to craft your message. do not create the sides the night before the presentation or go out there without having rehearsed. if the presentation matters to you, then put in some serious time and effort, or don’t bother at all”., ed fidgeon-kavanagh, chief presentationist at  clear preso, 2. be audience-centered (hfd), “when people encounter you, they ask themselves four questions that determine your likeability or “l-factor”. first, they seek friendliness. then, they ask themselves if you are relevant to them. next, they ponder whether you have empathy for them. finally, they ask themselves if you are ‘real’ — that is, authentic and honest”., tim sanders ,  sales & leadership keynote speaker, author of the likeability factor, if you want your audience to like you, learn as much as you can about them, specifically:, where are they from what’s their age range what do you have in common have they had any bad news recently what do they fear what do they want (aka what are their key motivators), bottom line : be precise, not random. find out the h opes, f ears and d reams (hfd) of your audience and plan to communicate with that unique group only, no other., how to identify your audience’s hopes, fears and dreams, 3 proven strategies to identify what your customers want, additional ways to learn more about your audience:, quora (check out questions + best answers related to your topic) amazon (read reviews about products/services/topics related to yours) udemy (see what people are saying about courses related to your topic) google  (instant results and related searches to identify what people are looking for), 3. define your goal, [tweet “if you can’t explain in one sentence what the goal of your presentation is, you don’t have one.”], “if you want results, you need to start by setting goals. when your goals are set, you need to find out how to best achieve them”., michael aagaard,  via content verve, crucial, especially when trying to build effective presentations that convey a powerful message., here’s an example:, if you’re trying to build a relationship with a prospective client (to be able to sell your products), your goal isn’t to make a creative presentation. your goal is to show your client you + your products are perfectly positioned to solve their problems., answer this question:, why are you making this presentation (aka why do you wanna talk to them)., get an order of $10,000 today build a relationship with them (so two years from now they wanna purchase from you), bottom line :  have one goal.  set your smart goals before you write a single word., 4. identify your audience’s motivation level, the way we’re going to think about your audience today is rooted in this guy named b.j. fogg who famously came up with the behavior model :, let me simplify that for you:, for a person to perform a target behavior (aka help you reach your goal) he must be sufficiently motivated and have the ability to perform the behavior., which is why you really need to understand  what stage of the buying cycle your audience members are in ., answer these questions:, has your audience heard of your company/product before are they intending to make a purchase do they have all of the information they need to make an informed decision what fears / anxieties could be holding them back, bottom line : knowing the context helps you to determine your choice of words and level of information, but also to structure your delivery and motivate your audience., map out a crystal-clear message, 5. build your core message, [tweet “you can have the best product but if you can’t communicate well about it, you have nothing. “], your core message is the #1 thing you wanna your audience to remember., the most critical one. the one they can’t miss. if they remember one thing, they’ll remember you., use this formula to build your core message:, action verb + who + what, show these shanghai-based consultants how my company can help them get more leads . motivate my directory board to increase the marketing budget . convince the prospect to sign that contract today ., bottom line : you core message must be articulated around a) helping you reach your goal and b) giving your audience what they want., 6. craft your elevator speech, [tweet “your elevator speech answers this question: why should i listen to you “], effective elevator speeches include:, benefits the word you are geared toward solving your audience’s problems, use these elevator pitch builder formulas:, today, i am going to teach you about [ result they care about ], today, you will get / discover  [ outcome ], if you agree to meet with us, you will [ result they care about ], if you read that presentation, you will [ result they care about ], today, you will discover the 5 strategies we’re using to triple our conversions . today, i am going to teach you  the 3-step process i used to double my website traffic in 2 months . if you agree to meet with us, you will learn how to launch events that increase footfall and instantly separate you from the competition ., bottom line :  your elevator speech must be angled toward helping your audience do do/get/discover something that benefits to them., 7. break down your core message in small bits, answer these questions:, what are the top 5 big reasons that will motivate my audience members to do what i want what messages will drive them toward my goal, if you don’t know, ask your actual customers why they’ve decided to work with you (aka what they like about you)., 8. backup everything with data (supportive points), [tweet ““in god we trust, all others must bring data.””], if you want people to trust you, make sure to provide research, data-rich points that prove what you’re saying (aka case studies, statistics, testimonials, money-back guarantees…), don’t say: we’ve helped companies increase their sales. say: we’ve has helped bryan from abc marketing to increase their sales by 34% in two months., rule of thumb : opinions are bullshit. do research .  n o opinions unchecked. , build a powerful structure, 9. treat your presentation as if it were a movie, [tweet “treat your presentation as a movie: set up a conflict that needs to be resolved.”], when asked what she thinks a great presentation advice is, graphic designer  elly whiley  had this to say…, “treat your presentation as if it were a movie., have a solid introduction that will intrigue your audience, a climatic middle where you raise problems and/or questions and finally a powerful conclusion where you answer and resolve everything raised and leave the audience with something to think about.”, elly whiley ( via canva ), the most effective presenters use the same techniques as great storytellers again and again. they remind people of the status quo (i.e. your audience’s pain points)… and then reveal the path to a better way., let’s illustrate this with one of my favorite example:.

10. Use PRD and PCR frames to tell stories

[tweet “”a story is a series of actions that overcome obstacles in order to achieve a goal””], let’s take a quick look at how the harvard business review editor bronwyn fryer describes what a story is :, “essentially, a story expresses how and why life changes., it begins with a situation in which life is relatively in balance : you come to work day after day, week after week, and everything’s fine. you expect it will go on that way., but then there’s an event —in screenwriting, we call it the “inciting incident”—that throws life out of balance . you get a new job, or the boss dies of a heart attack, or a big customer threatens to leave., the story goes on to describe how, in an effort to restore balance, the protagonist’s subjective expectations crash into an uncooperative objective reality”., story : balance + something happens (that throws life out of balance) + how to restore balance, the prd frame, p roblem : the current situation for your audience. do you suffer from/sick of being… r elief : it can change . it doesn’t have to be that way/there’s a solution… d ream : your solution. imagine if you could…how your life would be if you could…, the  pcr frame, p rotagonist : climate change / small farmers providing food to restaurants c onflict : how climate change affects the growing season” r esolution :  policies that are or should be in place or discussion about how people in other regions are mitigating the effects of climate change on local resources.  source ., tweet these story frame techniques –, 11. each slide has one message, idea, goal, one slide = one idea, one message, one core point, when asked what was his # 1 advice to build effective presentations skills, haiku deck co-founder adam tratt had this to say:, “the first is focus on one idea at a time. we do this by limiting the number of words you can put on a slide., less is more. remember, your audience can either listen to you, or ready your slide. avoid loading up your presentations with too many words”., adam tratt . co-founder at h aiku deck ., to help you be laser-focused on  your message,  use this formula every time you’re building a slide:, the purpose of this slide is to [ fill the blank ], for example: the purpose of this slide is to [ show that our sales grew by 16% this year ] the purpose of this slide is to [ demonstrate that our app features are the best in the market ], craft your irresistible content , here are 4 ways to craft attention-grabbing headlines that’ll motivate your audience to keep reading., [tweet “5 times as many people read advertising headlines than copy.”], if advertisers haven’t done some selling in their headlines, they’ve wasted 80% of their clients’ money. david ogilvy ., headlines have two purposes:  grab your audience’s attention + motivate them keep them reading., powerful headlines have four qualities:, 1) self-interest (focused on your audience) 2) news (teach them something) 3) curiosity (get them want to know more) 4) ultra-specific (aka use figures), 12. craft powerful headlines using the “brain dump” method, you’re gonna make a couple of subject lines and start filling them in.  for instance, your slide is about the weight-loss problem., let’s start writing:, subject 1: how to write lose weight  (sucky) subject 2: how to write lose weight effectively  (meh)  subject 3:  5 best-ever weight-loss secrets from thin people   (good) subject 4:  3 things experts won’t tell you about weight-loss   (catchy), bottom line : practice, practice, practice. write as many subject lines as needed. review them later, pick the best one (ask friends or colleagues if you’re unsure)., 13. steal your headlines from amazon, for example, let’s say i want to figure out some good headlines for copywriting services i have., the first step is to slap the term “copywriting” into amazon and see what comes up:, browse through the best ranked book titles., book title: “copywriting: a beginner’s blueprint. how to write amazing copy that compels readers to take action without selling your soul.”, headlines we can make out of this book title:, learn how to write amazing copy that compels readers to take action, right now., you don’t have to sell your soul to write amazing copy that sells, tweet this headline building tip –, 14.use these 7 attention-grabbing headline starters, new now here’s announcing presenting introducing look , source:  ca$hvertising, for example:, our powerful new seminar teaches marketers the power of persuasion to drive people into a buying frenzy now you can stop worrying about your traffic announcing the hottest new lobster roll from cali presenting the easiest way to engage your customers here’s why our digital marketing services are a great fit for you look it’s that easy, tweet these proven headline starters –, 15. use “lenses” to write headlines, copywriter neville medhora came up with the concept of lenses to write headlines that appeal to a specific audience.  lenses work especially well for sales presentations . there are three types of “lenses” you can instantly apply to your headlines:, “competitive” lens : “dominate the search results, and leave page 2 of google for your competitors”., “benefit driven” lens:  “80% faster than any other internet provider”., “inspirational” lens:  “what if you could learn the exact system to rank a website that generates traffic, sales & customers 24/7”, check out neville’s video to dig deeper into the lenses concept:.

Resources for your headlines:

Portent  (headline generator) title generator (headline generator) internet marketing course (headline generator) over 139 formulas, from +30 different online author  (aka joanna wiebe’s supreme guide to writing amazing headlines fast), 16. avoid the me-too syndrome (here’s how), [tweet “nobody cares about you, people care about what you can do for them.”], the problem with 80% of business presentations and sales pitches, let’s take a look at this really bad example:, can you spot what’s wrong with this spam email, well, i’ll tell you:, the me-too syndrome aka the number of time it’s about them vs. the number of time it’s about me., here’s the breakdown:, them (aka “i”; “us”, “our”): 15, me (aka “you”): 11, me-too score: 58% (15/26), to avoid the me-too syndrome, make sure me-too score is under 50%, but more importantly… don’t talk about you, talk about what you can do for them., how will you improve their business how will you educate them on a specific topic they’re interested in how will your skills/services/products will make their life better, don’t be like that dumb chris who says:, if you’re interested in hearing what we can do for you…, instead, say this:, we have closely analyzed your website and based on this, we believe there are two challenges you’re looking at:the first is x, the second is y. we’ve done a lot of work on x and y. in fact, we’ve already helped abc firm to grow their traffic by 200% the last 6 months. we’d love to help you do the same., 17. be ultra-specific, if i asked you right now, “what makes your company different”, what would you say 90% of us would something like this: “we provide premium services” or “we’re a great team of professional people”. yeah, i like to breathe oxygen too., be specific., don’t say:, how to improve your finance quickly and claim back your freedom., 18. apply the svo principle, sentences that have a subject-verb-object order are more readable than those that don’t. source ., the technique was recommended by the american concrete institute., the american concrete institute recommends the technique., 19. write to a friend, [tweet “write for the ear, not the eye. old adage.”], there’s nothing worse than getting junk content from another  me-too company that rambles on and on about how amazing they are., but on the other hand, when you read something that’s written to you – like a personal note – you’ll devour every word. because you’ll want to know what’s in it for you., bottom line : act as your audience members are your best friends (think, how would i write to name of friend)., 20. use questions, rhetorical — interesting, aren’t they, 21. hit specific emotions, you know which emotions you want them to feel at every paragraph (anger, curiosity, relief, happiness)., learn how to identify the emotions you want to evoke + find out the perfect matching words., 22. do not overwhelm them, keep it simple., [tweet “79% of people scan read, rather than read every single word.”], no, your audience doesn’t need to know everything. prioritize and focus truly brings value to them aka here’s what we really do that’s gonna make a meaningful impact on your life / business / sexuality / happiness., bottom line : every word must earn its place on the slide, seriously., 23. do the chimpanzee brain test, read out loud every single sentence in your deck and ask yourself:, is it easy to understand or not, if the answer is no, shorten the phrase or break it down in smaller pieces., bottom line : you don’t need complex words or perfect grammar. don’t make them think and express only one though in a sentence. use your next sentence to say the next thing., 24. apply the 6×7 rule, “remember, your audience can either listen to you, or read your slides. avoid loading up your presentations with too many words”., adam tratt. co-founder at haiku deck ., your audience should be listening to you, and not reading slides. plus, you should be looking at them while speaking (not reading slides)., no more than 6 lines per slide no more than 7 words per line source, design your stunning presentation, 25. customize your deck size, learn how (and why) to do that here ., 26. prepare your opening slides, here’s the deal, your opening slides have two targets:, assure your audience they’re in the right place (aka your core topic), remind them what they’re going to hear (which is gonna hook them because they want to get the answer), left side cover shows you the result you’ll get by reading the deck: learn 100 marketing growth hacks right side cover shows you the result you’ll get by reading the deck: learn facts about the spine you probably didn’t know, how to create a brilliant cover slide in 5 minutes, 27. each content slide has 3-4 elements, image source, headline to grab the attention, sub-headlines give you more information and further, illustration : to get your attention and to illustrate the point more fullyspee, copy : to convey the main selling message of the slide, download your free, professional-looking template here, 28. use visuals, many folks out there urge you to use visuals, few tell you why you should., so here’s why:, we process visuals 60,000 times faster than text., 40% of learners respond better to visual information than text alone., people who use visual aids are 43% more persuasive than those who don’t ., here’s my go-to-list of breathtaking, free-to-use photography resources:, gratisography  (crisp, fun, humorous visuals) death to the stock photo  (as the first one) startup stock photos  (genuine looking pics) pexels (lots of themes, beautiful photo) unsplash  (stunning nature related visuals) little visuals  (as unsplash) pic jumbo  (urban-related pictures), learn how to design  attention-grabbing cover slide  here., 29. build a powerful color theme, [tweet “color accounts for 85% of the reason why someone decides to purchase a product.”], so, what’s the bottom line, color sell products. make sure the colors you chose are:, strongly associated with your organization (color increases brand recognition by up to 80%), aligned with your audience’s characteristics. find out how to align your colors with your consumer’s backgrounds here , page 6 and 7., complementary: colors opposite each other on the color wheel., create your winning color themes:, colorcode colour lovers adobe kuler  ♥ the basics of color theory (fun, interactive article), 30. use icons, this post shows you how to integrate icons in your presentation slides. here are great icon resources:, flaticon freepik  ♥ icon finder the noun project, 31. steal like an artist, you don’t have to start building a presentation from scratch., instead, do what i’m doing:, create a folder on your desktop and title it “swipe file.” anytime you see a beautiful design or great copy, just add it to your swipe file.  set up individual folders or labels (e.g. “great cover slides”, “headlines”, etc). pretty soon, you’ll have a repository of inspiration that you can tap into when you are working on your own presentations., here’s how my personal swipe file looks like:, amazing sources of design inspiration:, dribbble graphic river note & point slideshare  ♥ the 3-step process to hack slide design, 32. choose the right typography, people are more likely to engage in a given behavior the less effort it requires ( source ), helvetica is apple’s office font. amazing, isn’t it,  for free and creative font options, check out:, the 10 most popular typefaces used by the top 100 u.s newspapers the top 10 fonts web designers love (free and paid) dafont font squirrel  ♥ fonts2u fonts fabric, 33. use the crap principle, there are not a hundred but one principle of design that i want you to get under your belt., the crap principle: contrast, repetition, alignment, proximity., contrast is all about making things stand out. it can be achieved using three major tactics:  manipulation of space (near / far, empty / filled), color choices (dark vs. light / cool vs. warm) and text (typography style / bold vs. narrow)., repetition , for instance making a headline and a sub-message the same color, makes scanning your deck much easier. repetition helps you create a cohesive look to your presentation., alignment . newspapers use this to great effect. aligning a whole bunch of elements with one another makes them scan faster. alignment makes things easier to read., proximity means that things are associated with one another. let me explain that for you: the closer things are, the more they are associated the farther they are away from one another, the less they are associated., 34. make closing slides, repeat your agenda aka your deck’s plan to remind the audience of what they just got. in the final slide confirms that the presentation is over., thank you contact information, “according to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. number two is death. death is number two. does that sound right” jerry seinfeld, deliver like a boss, [tweet “you only have 7 seconds to make a great first impression”], it takes only seven seconds for us to judge another person when we first meet them , says linda blair, clinical psychologist. which leads us to the following question:, what is the best way to start a presentation and make a killer opener, well, to succeed, three things must happen:, 1) get them to pay attention to you 2) answer the why should i listen to you question 3) give them a hint about the direction of your speech, here are 4 ways to craft a killer opener that’ll grab your audience’s attention (and improve your presentation and public speaking skills), 35. begin with a story, [tweet “your audience recalls only 10 to 30% of what they hear.”], “two years ago, my life changed forever. my wife kalcy and i welcomed our daughter leila to the world.”, the first 20 hours — how to learn anything | josh kaufman | tedxcsu, 36. make a provocative statement, “hey are you excited to be here are you ready to learn some stuff are you ready to get humped up and get excited, motivated if that’s you…you came to the wrong place because we’re not doing any of that today. we’re gonna learn actual stuff, usable, in the real word. and you’re gonna come away from here with things you can use, make money with”. oren klaff, you might want another example, am i right, check out will stephen’s amazingly provocative tedx intro:, x how to sound smart in your tedx talk | will stephen | tedxnewyork, “hear that that’s nothing which is what i, as a speaker at today’s conference, have for you all: i have nothing nada zip nothing smart nothing inspirational i have absolutely nothing to say whatsoever.”, like this presentation opener tip click here  to tweet it –, 37. use statistics/quotes in your opener, one of the best ways to start a speech, numbers and quotes , “46% of us small businesses feel they are being “sold to” instead of “spoken to” by other businesses “. “you only have 7 seconds to make a great first impression”. “before we get started i wanna tell you about a quote from a guy named adam nash: growth is important and all good companies take it seriously”.   growth hacking – neil patel – pioneers festival 2014, to find reliable statistics or quotes, head over to google and try these search strings:, site:edu + “your keyword” + “data”, site:edu + “your keyword” + “percent”, inurl:research + “your keyword” + “statistics”, “your keyword” + quote, 38. make a huge promise (gts formula), get your audience’s excited about what they’ll be able to do or know by the end of your speech., use the gts (give them something) formula:, you will get you will learn today, i’m going to show you [ statement that benefits your audience ]. by the end of this presentation, you will [ result they’re interested in ]., by the end of today’s presentation, you will join an elite group of speakers who can changes lives of their audience members for the better. you will learn secret techniques that only a few of the world’s best speakers are using and that’ll make every speech an outstanding one., people will listen because they really want to get what you promise., bottom line : don’t over-promise, ever., tweet this gts technique –, 39. share a plan, if your speech is longer than 30 minutes, give em a plan. a plan makes it easy for your audience to follow through aka see where you are at any point in time., “5 steps for financial freedom and you’re taking about 3: they know you’re at the middle of the speech”., command with your body, 40. stand facing the people you’re taking too, 41. use high-power poses, according to harvard business school professor amy j.c. cuddy , high-power poses decrease cortisol (“the stress hormone”) by about 25% and increase testosterone by about 19% for both men and women., nonverbal expressions of power and dominance are about expanding:, stretch out open up make yourself taller, seriously, set aside 15 minutes to watch this amazing tedx talk:, body language, the power is in the palm of your hands | allan pease .

Bottom line : Don’t use defensive postures such as arms crossed, hands in pockets, hands clasped behind or in front of your body. These postures limit your gestural ability and will make your audience close off as well.

42. use eye contact, eye contact is crucial in keeping you and your audience connected. here are two things you should do to keep them engaged:, spend a few seconds with each person you look at, for bigger lecture halls, use an m or a w pattern to spread eye contact throughout ( source )., 43. keep moving, “human beings are drawn to movement. if you move when you speak, you’ll get people’s attention., it can be especially effective to move toward the audience before making a key point, and away when you want to signal a break or a change of subject. you can also use space to reinforce your ideas. for example, if you’re presenting three issues, talk about each of them from a different physical position”., carole kinsey goman (via forbes)., convince with your voice, 44. use pauses to add expression and feeling to  your speech, [tweet “pausing is to speaking as punctuation is to writing.”], look, pauses are super important because they:, reduce the overall rate of speaking, give the audience time to reflect + absorb what you’re saying, tell your listeners you are moving from one thought to the next, here are a few tips from the presentation coach diane windingland :, pause before you speak, look at your audience first, pause before and after important/difficult words or concepts, pause after changing visual, pause before and after a punch line ( e.g take my wife….please),  plus, when saying something important, speak slowly., slowness implies what you’re going to say is extremely important—so important that they need time for it to sink in. plus, a clear speech is easier to understand., 45. use a conversational tone, verbal presentation skills are crucial to your success and there are two things you should do to increase engagement with your audience:, first, use the words “you” and “i”  so your audience relates with what you’re telling them., do you reme mber the last time you….[client problem]. i understand that. you know that feeling when… [bad situation]. i think it’s crazy, don’t you you ’re stuck in [bad situation], you ’re dealing with… [problem]… i feel your pain. let me be honest with you, if you ’re serious about [benefit they want]…, second, you can also use rhetorical questions:, pretty sneaky, isn’t it you guys know what i’m talking about, right, 46. use sensory phrases, using sensory phrases while you’re presenting will help you get your audience to feel something:, does it feel like…. can you imagine… let me show you… let me tell you… you don’t need to…, if you’re like me you’ll love to get your brain juice going with concrete examples., check out these lists of emotion, trigger words and phrases:, 47. eliminate filler words (aka the dreaded “um”), since being kids, we’ve been conditioned to answer questions immediately.  and that’s why we’re using filler words such as “uh”, “um”, “well”, “like”… that make us look dumb and unprepared., here are a few ways eliminate these words from your vocabulary:, video or audio record yourself: find out just how bad it really is. if you’re aware of it, you can work on it, don’t speak while looking at your notes (look at your notes, look up and then speak), be silent while you are trying to come up with the right word, apply the pta formula : pause, think, answer, tweet this filler words elimination technique –, 48. apply the sdt principle.

Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass. Anton Chekhov

The SDT (aka Show Don’t Tell) principle has one purpose: enable your audience  to experience the story through action, words, senses, and feelings.

Here’s a kickass example from zendesk  customer service software:, bottom line : get your audience to picture what you’re telling them.,  great resources on body language techniques:, your hand gestures are speaking for you  (with pictures), the secrets of body language: why you should never cross your arms again, amy cuddy: your body language shapes who you are  (ted talk), 49. avoid the lecture (here’s why), “for the first 5-10 minutes of a typical 50 minute lecture a student remembers a high proportion of the information presented, after which the proportion of information preserved rapidly declines. students typically retain 70% from the first 10 minutes of lecture, and 20% from the last 10 minutes . source ., yup… our brains don’t pay attention during a lecture., “research has shown that the lecture, aka “a dump of information”, is quite literally the worst way to receive content. we cannot retain, interact, or engage with it. the research of james hartley and ivor davies revealed that in the first seven minutes of a lecture, all were engaged. shortly after that window of time, attention dropped and plateaued for the next forty minutes., don’t make the mistake of doing a brain dump. ponder how to create small moments between 7-10 minute chunks of content that allow the audience to stop, pause, and think for a while. avoid the lecture”, bryan kelly (via bryan paul kelly), 50. rehearse, when asked what he thinks the most costly presentation mistake is, scott schwertly  of ethos3  had this to say…, “rehearse. embrace the mindset that every presentation requires a number of rehearsals. if your boss wants you to present on a piece of subject matter you have never seen before, it requires a minimum of 7-8 rehearsals. back in 1981, jerry seinfeld practiced 200 times for his comedy bit on the tonight show with johnny carson., if you think practicing your presentation 2x the night before and 1x the morning of your talk will make you succeed, you are dead wrong.”, scott schwertly , ceo of ethos3, here are two effective ways to rehearse your speech:, audio record yourself: it will help you assess which phrases sound good and which just look weird. don’t forget to listen for filler words and heck out the time., get feedback. grab a friend or a colleague and ask him: what can i improve what’s your favorite element of the speech, it’s time to put your new presentation skills into action , it’s no secret that effective presentation skills can skyrocket your success – a new job, a boost for your business, or even fund raising for your startup., no wonder why 90% of american people are saying communicate skills are most important for their children to get ahead in the world today ., some years back, when i was just starting to get serious about building persuasive presentations and pitches, i scoured the web for checklists that would help me remember all these new things that i was learning., i found nothing, other than seamless list of tips like “arrive early” (duh), “be entertaining” or “tell stories”., i felt frustrated, and that’s why i decided to create this piece of content., i believe this infographic would be a great little addition to keep on your own computer desktop. whenever you build or deliver a presentation….just check out the list to make sure you’re on track., hope you’ve enjoyed and learnt., additional resources you’ll love, pptpop’s best resources : a hand-curated list of articles, templates, and life-changing books that will help you become a better you, faster than anyone else., make a killer sales presentation : my personal blueprint to designing high-converting sales decks form scratch., [tweet “how to hack your presentation skills [infographic] “], join pptpop, if you join pptpop, you’ll get one or two monthly emails where i share crazy-effective advice designed  to help you craft irresistible pitches and presentations that hook. and sell. a lot. no fluff. no b.s. click that fat blue button to subscribe., recommended for you.

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Presentation Skills for Career Success: Examples and Tips

As an expert in both writing and subject matter, I understand the importance of effective presentation skills. From delivering a sales pitch to making a dynamic presentation at a conference, presentation skills are an essential aspect of career success.

Definition of Presentation Skills

Presentation skills refer to the ability to effectively and persuasively communicate information to an audience. This involves several different components, including speaking clearly and confidently, engaging with the audience, and using visual aids to illustrate key points.

Importance of Presentation Skills for Career Success

Strong presentation skills can make all the difference in achieving success in your career. Whether you’re pitching an important idea to investors or delivering a report to your team, being able to communicate your message clearly and effectively is critical. Poor presentation skills can undermine a person’s credibility and ultimately hinder their ability to succeed.

Understanding Your Target Audience

When preparing a presentation, it is crucial to understand your target audience. Without knowing who will be sitting in the audience, it can be challenging to effectively communicate your message. To ensure a successful presentation, you need to:

A. Identifying Your Audience

The first step is to identify your audience. Who are you presenting to? Are they co-workers, executives or customers? What is their demographic? What is their level of knowledge about your topic? Understanding your audience’s characteristics will allow you to personalize the presentation and make it more relatable.

B. Knowing Your Audience’s Expectations

After identifying your audience, the next step is to understand their expectations. What are they hoping to learn from your presentation? Are they looking for specific information, or are they coming in with no prior knowledge? By understanding what your audience expects, you can tailor your message accordingly.

C. Tailoring Your Presentation to Your Audience

Now that you understand who your audience is and what they expect to gain from your presentation, the final step is to tailor your presentation to meet their needs. This means adjusting the way you present information, including visuals and language, to ensure that the message resonates with them.

For example, if you’re presenting to a group of executives, you’ll want to use language that speaks to their level of knowledge and experience. On the other hand, if you’re presenting to a group of new employees, you’ll want to simplify your language and provide more background information.

By customizing your presentation to your audience, you will increase their engagement and enhance their understanding of the topic. This will result in a more successful presentation overall.

Understanding your target audience is crucial to delivering a successful presentation. By identifying your audience, knowing their expectations, and tailoring your message to their needs, you can create a presentation that resonates with your audience and delivers the message effectively.

Creating an Effective Presentation

Creating an effective presentation can be a daunting task, but it is necessary for career success. An effective presentation can be the key to closing a business deal, securing new clients, or impressing your bosses.

To make sure your presentation is effective, there are five key steps you must take: defining your objectives, developing a strong message, structuring your presentation, using visual aids and emotional appeals, and rehearsing your presentation.

A. Defining Your Objectives

Before you start creating your presentation, it is important to define your objectives. Ask yourself: What am I trying to achieve with this presentation? Who is my audience? What message do I want to convey? Once you have answered these questions, you can start creating your presentation with a clear goal in mind.

B. Developing a Strong Message

To create a strong message, you need to think about what your audience needs to hear from you. Your message should be clear, concise, and relevant to your audience. Use language and visuals that are easy to understand and memorable.

C. Structuring Your Presentation

A well-structured presentation is key to keeping your audience engaged. Start with a strong opening that grabs their attention, then move into the main body of your presentation where you can delve deeper into your message using clear examples and evidence. Finally, end with a strong closing that leaves a lasting impression.

D. Using Visual Aids and Emotional Appeals

Using visual aids and emotional appeals can make your presentation more engaging and memorable. Visual aids can help illustrate your message and make it easier to understand. Emotional appeals can help you connect with your audience on a more personal level and make your presentation more memorable.

E. Rehearsing Your Presentation

The final step in creating an effective presentation is rehearsing. Practice your presentation multiple times. This will help you feel more confident and prepared when it is time to present. It will also help you identify areas that need improvement.

Creating an effective presentation is an important skill for career success. By defining your objectives, developing a strong message, structuring your presentation, using visual aids and emotional appeals, and rehearsing your presentation, you can deliver a presentation that is engaging, memorable, and effective.

Presentation Delivery Skills

Effective presentation delivery is a crucial aspect for professional success. The way you present yourself, the ideas, and the subject matter can significantly impact the audience’s perception of you and the content you provide. This section discusses some important presentation delivery skills that can help you in your career.

A. Opening and Closing Strategies

The opening and closing of your presentation should be attention-grabbing and leave a lasting impression. Use a powerful opening statement, a thought-provoking question, or an engaging story that relates to the topic. Similarly, end the presentation with a summarized version of the crucial points, a call to action, or an inspiring quote. These strategies can help the audience remember your presentation long after it’s over.

B. Voice and Body Language

Your voice and body language play an essential role in conveying your message effectively. Speak clearly and confidently, and avoid filler words such as “umm” and “ahh.” Use gestures and body movements that complement your words and help emphasize your message.

C. Eye Contact and Interpersonal Communication

Maintaining eye contact with your audience is a powerful way to build rapport and influence. It shows that you are confident and interested in engaging with them. Along with eye contact, focus on interpersonal communication skills, such as active listening, empathy, and adapting your communication style to resonate with the audience.

D. Managing Nervousness

It’s natural to feel nervous before a presentation, but it can negatively affect your performance. Be prepared by rehearsing beforehand, arriving early, and taking deep breaths. Use positive self-talk, affirmations, and visualization techniques to calm your nerves and build confidence.

E. Tips for Virtual and Remote Presentations

Virtual and remote presentations require additional considerations to ensure a successful delivery. Ensure that your technology works correctly, keep your slides simple and easy to read, and avoid multitasking during the presentation. Practice your presentation in front of a camera to get used to the virtual interface.

Mastering presentation delivery skills is an ongoing process of refinement and practice. Paying attention to your opening and closing strategies, voice and body language, eye contact and interpersonal communication, managing nervousness, and tips for virtual and remote presentations can make a significant difference in the impact of your presentation on the audience. By honing these skills, you can enhance your professional brand and take your career to greater heights.

Engaging Your Audience

Engaging your audience is crucial to delivering an effective presentation. The goal is to keep their attention and leave a lasting impression. In this section, we’ll cover four key techniques to engage your audience: storytelling, audience participation, Q&A sessions, and handling difficult audience members.

A. Using Storytelling Techniques

Stories have the power to captivate an audience and make your presentation memorable. Consider opening with a personal anecdote or sharing a relevant story that connects with your topic. Use descriptive language and vivid details to make your story come alive.

Throughout your presentation, sprinkle in relevant stories and examples to help illustrate your points. If you have data or statistics to share, try presenting them in the form of a story. This will make them more interesting and easier to remember.

B. Encouraging Audience Participation

Encouraging audience participation can help to create an interactive and engaging presentation. There are many ways to do this, such as posing thought-provoking questions or inviting volunteers for a demonstration.

Another way to encourage participation is to use interactive tools, such as live polling or Q&A features. These tools allow the audience to engage with you in real-time and can provide valuable insights into their thoughts and opinions.

C. Asking Questions and Managing Q&A Sessions

Asking questions can be an effective way to keep your audience engaged and test their understanding of the material. Be sure to pause at key points in your presentation and ask relevant questions to keep the audience on their toes.

During the Q&A session, it’s important to manage the flow of questions and keep things organized. Encourage people to raise their hands and wait until they are called upon before speaking. If you’re receiving multiple questions at once, try repeating them back to ensure everyone can hear and understand.

D. Tips for Handling Difficult Audience Members

Dealing with difficult audience members can be a challenge, but it’s important to remain professional and respectful. Here are a few tips for handling different types of difficult audience members:

• The interrupter:  Politely ask them to wait until you’ve finished speaking before asking their question.
• The skeptic:  Acknowledge their concerns and be prepared with evidence or examples to support your position.
• The distractor:  Politely redirect their attention back to the topic at hand and keep the presentation moving forward.

Engaging your audience is crucial to delivering an effective presentation. By using storytelling techniques, encouraging audience participation, asking questions, and handling difficult audience members, you can create a memorable and impactful presentation that resonates with your audience.

Presentation Software and Tools

In today’s professional environment, creating and delivering powerful presentations is a requirement for success. Fortunately, there are many tools and technologies available to help presenters bring their ideas to life. This section explores some of the most popular software and techniques for creating and delivering engaging presentations.

A. Overview of Popular Presentation Software

There are many presentation software tools available, but some are more widely used than others. The most popular presentation software tools include:

• Microsoft PowerPoint  – A versatile software tool that allows users to create dynamic presentations with a range of text, graphics, and multimedia features.
• Apple Keynote  – An alternative to PowerPoint that includes many of the same features and is optimized for use on Apple devices.
• Google Slides  – A cloud-based alternative to PowerPoint that allows users to create and share presentations online.
• Prezi  – A non-linear presentation tool that uses a canvas rather than slides to tell a story.

B. Techniques for Using PowerPoint Effectively

PowerPoint is a widely used presentation software tool, but there are some key techniques that can be used to present more effectively. Some of these techniques include:

• Simplicity  – Avoid cluttering slides with too much content. Keep text to a minimum and use images and graphics to emphasize key points.
• Consistency  – Use a consistent font, color scheme, and style throughout the presentation to create a professional-looking deck.
• Storytelling  – Use a clear narrative to guide the audience through the presentation and keep them engaged.
• Animation  – Use animations and other visual effects sparingly to emphasize key points and keep the audience’s attention.

C. Tips for Creating Engaging Multimedia

Engaging multimedia elements can help bring a presentation to life and make it more memorable. Some tips for creating engaging multimedia include:

• Images  – Use high-quality images that are relevant to the topic and can help illustrate key points.
• Graphs and charts  – Use graphs and charts to display data in a clear and concise way.
• Video  – Include relevant video clips to emphasize key points and break up the presentation.
• Interactive elements  – Use interactive elements such as quizzes or polls to engage the audience and encourage participation.

D. Other Presentation Tools and Technologies

In addition to the software tools and techniques mentioned above, there are many other presentation tools and technologies that can be used to make a presentation more engaging. Some of these include:

• Virtual and augmented reality  – Virtual and augmented reality can be used to create immersive experiences for the audience and help them better understand complex concepts.
• Audience response systems  – Audience response systems allow the audience to participate in the presentation by responding to questions or providing feedback.
• Live streaming  – Live streaming allows the presentation to be broadcast online in real-time, allowing a wider audience to view the presentation.

Presentation Skills in Professional Settings

Delivering effective presentations is a crucial skill for career success. In professional settings, presentations are an opportunity to showcase expertise, make persuasive arguments, and establish credibility. Below are some common types of presentations and tips for delivering them successfully.

A. Interview Presentations

Job interviews often include a presentation component, where candidates are asked to deliver a pitch about themselves and their qualifications. To make a strong impression in an interview presentation, consider the following tips:

• Research the company and its values to tailor your message accordingly.
• Practice your presentation in advance and anticipate potential questions or points of discussion.
• Use storytelling techniques to make your presentation engaging and memorable.
• Be confident, enthusiastic, and energetic to convey your passion for the job and demonstrate your communication skills.

B. Business Proposals

In business settings, proposals are often used to pitch new ideas, products, or services to potential clients or stakeholders. To create a persuasive proposal presentation, consider the following tips:

• Understand the needs and interests of your audience to tailor your proposal accordingly.
• Use a clear and concise format that highlights the key benefits and value of your proposal.
• Anticipate potential objections or concerns and address them proactively in your presentation.
• Use visual aids or demonstrations to support your proposal and make it more engaging.

C. Sales Presentations

Sales presentations are a common way to promote products, services, or solutions to potential customers. To make an effective sales presentation, consider the following tips:

• Focus on the needs and pain points of your target audience, and position your product as a solution.
• Use storytelling techniques or case studies to illustrate the benefits and value of your product.
• Be confident and assertive, but also empathetic and responsive to your audience’s feedback and questions.
• Use visual aids or demos to showcase your product in action and make it more tangible.

D. Conference Presentations

Conference presentations are a chance to share research, insights, or expertise with a broader audience. To make a compelling conference presentation, consider the following tips:

• Identify the main message or takeaway of your presentation and structure your content accordingly.
• Use a clear and engaging narrative or story arc to make your presentation more cohesive and memorable.
• Use visual aids or multimedia to support your main points and make your presentation more engaging.
• Rehearse your delivery and timing to ensure that you stay within the allotted time and maintain a good pace.

E. Other Professional Settings

There are many other professional settings where presentation skills can be valuable, such as meetings, training sessions, or public speaking events. To deliver effective presentations in these settings, consider the following tips:

• Understand the purpose and scope of your presentation, and tailor your content and delivery accordingly.
• Use visual aids or other interactive elements to support your presentation and make it more engaging.
• Anticipate potential objections or questions and prepare to respond effectively.

Excellence in Public Speaking and Presentation Skills

Public speaking and presentation skills play a significant role in career success. To achieve excellence in these skills, one needs to develop strategies for growth, continuously work on improving them, and stay current with future trends.

A. Strategies for Growth

Developing strategies for growth involves setting goals and working towards achieving them. Here are some tips for building a strong foundation:

• Identify your audience – Know who you are presenting to and what their goals and interests are.
• Craft a compelling message – Create a clear message that resonates with your audience.
• Practice regularly – Practice speaking and presenting regularly, either in front of a mirror or in front of others.
• Seek feedback – Seek feedback from colleagues or mentors to identify areas for improvement.

B. Tips for Continuous Improvement

Once you have established good strategies, the next step to excellence is to continually work on improving your skills. Here are some tips for continuous improvement:

• Attend workshops or training sessions – Attend workshops or training sessions on public speaking and presentation skills to learn new techniques and best practices.
• Take advantage of technology – Utilize technology to enhance your presentations, such as incorporating multimedia or using presentation software.
• Analyze successful presentations – Analyze successful presentations from others and learn from their techniques.
• Embrace constructive criticism – Listen to feedback from audience members or colleagues and use it to make improvements.

C. Future Trends in Presentation Skills

As technology continues to advance, there are several future trends in presentation skills that professionals should stay current with, such as:

• Interactive presentations – Interactive presentations engage the audience through the use of technology, such as live polling or virtual reality.
• Storytelling – Storytelling is becoming increasingly popular in presentations, as it allows the presenter to connect with the audience on a more personal level.
• Personalization – Personalization involves tailoring the presentation to the individual needs of the audience, such as incorporating their names or organization’s branding.
• Artificial Intelligence – Artificial intelligence is being used to analyze and provide feedback on presentation skills, allowing presenters to make more data-driven improvements.

To achieve excellence in public speaking and presentation skills, individuals need to invest in building a strong foundation, continuously work on improving their skills, and stay current with future trends. By doing so, professionals can enhance their career success and influence their audience to take meaningful action.

Examples of Effective Presentations

A. sample presentation outlines.

Sample presentation outlines are included to give readers an idea of how presentations can be structured. These outlines may include the following sections:

• Introduction
• Main Points
• Supporting Details
• Call to Action

By following these outlines, presenters can organize their ideas and deliver a clear and concise message to their audience.

B. Video Examples of Effective Presentations

Video examples of effective presentations allow readers to see real-life examples of presenters who excel at delivering engaging and informative presentations. These videos may feature live presentations, TED talks, or business pitches. By watching these videos, readers can learn from the delivery techniques, body language, and visual aids used by the presenters.

C. Analysis of What Makes Effective Presentations

In this section, the article delves deeper into what makes a presentation effective. The analysis may cover topics such as:

• Audience Engagement: An effective presentation should keep the audience engaged and interested by using interactive tools, storytelling techniques, and humor.
• Relevance: The presentation should be relevant and deliver useful information that can benefit the audience.
• Structure: Presentations should follow a logical structure and should be easy to follow, with clear transitions between topics.
• Delivery: An effective presentation requires good vocal and nonverbal communication skills, such as eye contact, posture, and tone of voice.
• Visual Aids: The use of visual aids, such as slides, videos, and infographics, can enhance the message and increase engagement.

By understanding these key elements, individuals can improve their presentation skills and build their confidence when presenting in front of an audience.

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Have you ever tried to find another word for communication skills? If this is what you’re seeking then look no further! In this guide, we explore 21 synonyms for communication skills to help you elevate your resume and start communicating better!

When it comes to showcasing your communication abilities on a resume or in a professional setting, the phrase “communication skills” can sometimes feel overused. And, while it is a perfectly fine phrase in itself, there are plenty of other ways to express this.

To add a touch of uniqueness and depth to your self-presentation, consider incorporating these diverse and impactful synonyms for communication skills:

Table of Contents

21 Synonyms for Communication Skills

Here is a list of synonyms for communication skills. You can learn more about each synonym in more detail below the list, including when to use it and some examples:

• Able to convey my thoughts easily
• Active listener
• Collaborative communicator
• Diplomatic skills
• Easy to communicate with
• Effective speaker
• Eloquent speaker
• Empathic listener and persuasive speaker
• Excellent oral and written communication
• Excellent presentation skills
• Excellent speaker and listener
• Great debater
• Happy to share my feelings
• Interpersonal skills
• Negotiation skills
• Professional speaking skills
• Social skills
• Versatile communicator

Able to Convey My Thoughts Easily

Being able to convey your thoughts easily indicates your capability to express complex concepts in a way that is accessible to diverse audiences. It also highlights your capacity to articulate ideas with clarity and precision.

Labeling yourself as someone who is “able to convey my thoughts easily” signals to potential employers that you possess effective communication skills, ensuring seamless understanding and collaboration within the team.

Consider incorporating these examples into your resume:

• Able to convey my thoughts easily, facilitating effective collaboration within the team.
• Excelling as someone able to convey my thoughts easily, I bring a straightforward and accessible communication style to the workplace, ensuring that ideas are communicated effectively within the team.

Active Listener

You could consider incorporating the term “active listener” to underscore your listening prowess. Listening is a key part of communication and this phrase highlights your dedication to listening and engaged communication.

Being an active listener involves fully engaging in conversations, showing attentiveness, and comprehending others’ perspectives.

Describing yourself as an “active listener” communicates to potential employers that you possess the ability to truly comprehend and consider the perspectives of others. This skill set is particularly valuable in team-based roles, making it a noteworthy addition when applying for collaborative positions. One of the most important qualities of a good teacher is to be an active listener too.

Consider these examples that you could use:

• An active listener, fostering a cooperative and understanding work environment.
• As an active listener, I effortlessly navigate workplace discussions, ensuring that every voice is heard and considered.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionar y, “Articulate” is defined as expressing oneself readily, clearly, and effectively.

This underscores the importance of not just conveying ideas but doing so with finesse, ensuring a message is not just heard but truly understood. So, describing yourself as articulate indicates an ability to express thoughts and ideas fluently and effectively.

An articulate individual stands out as someone who can use appropriate words and phrases to share thoughts seamlessly with a group. This skill becomes particularly valuable in collaborative endeavors, where the ability to articulate ideas can spearhead projects toward success.

For this reason, the association of being articulate with leadership qualities is unmistakable. Employers hold this trait in high regard, appreciating individuals who can help their colleagues grasp complex concepts and navigate intricate discussions.

To maximize the impact of your resume, we recommend integrating “articulate” alongside traditional terms like “communication skills” in your resumes or cover letters. This showcases your ability to articulate thoughts clearly and lead through effective communication.

Let’s explore some practical examples that illustrate the application of “articulate” in professional contexts:

• An articulate communicator adept at conveying complex concepts with simplicity.
• Being articulate allows me to convey my thoughts easily to the team, establishing my role as an influential leader in group situations.

Collaborative Communicator

This term underscores your proficiency in working seamlessly within a team, emphasizing cooperation and unity.

You can integrate the term “collaborative communicator” into your resume to highlight your ability to effectively convey ideas and work seamlessly within a team setting.

Being a collaborative communicator goes beyond mere interaction; it signifies your aptitude for sharing thoughts, ideas, and information in a way that encourages cooperation and collective problem-solving.

As a collaborative communicator, you excel in creating an open and inclusive dialogue within your professional circles. This involves not only expressing your ideas clearly but also actively seeking input from others.

Advertising yourself as a “collaborative communicator” signals to potential employers that you excel in expressing yourself and facilitating an environment where team members can openly exchange insights. This proficiency is crucial for roles that require constant teamwork and collective goal achievement.

• A collaborative communicator dedicated to enhancing team dynamics through effective information exchange.
• A collaborative communicator, adept at fostering an inclusive and cooperative team environment, ensuring that everyone’s perspectives are acknowledged and integrated.

Diplomatic Skills

Diplomacy involves the ability to navigate sensitive situations with tact and discretion. This is a key element of possessing strong communication skills.

Positioning yourself as someone with good diplomacy, or “diplomatic skills”, emphasizes your ability to navigate sensitive situations with tact and finesse, fostering positive relationships and effective communication.

It indicates your proficiency in handling diverse perspectives, resolving conflicts, and ensuring that communication remains constructive.

This signals to potential employers that you bring a valuable set of interpersonal skills, crucial for roles that require nuanced and considerate communication.

• Exhibits diplomacy in handling challenging workplace scenarios, fostering positive outcomes.
• As someone who possesses strong diplomatic skills, I navigate sensitive situations with finesse, ensuring positive relationships and effective communication within the team.

Easy to Communicate With

Describing yourself as “easy to communicate with” highlights your approachability and effectiveness in fostering open dialogue and collaboration.

Being easy to communicate with indicates that you are approachable, receptive, and able to understand others’ perspectives. It signals to potential employers that you possess strong interpersonal skills, contributing positively to team dynamics and overall workplace communication. This is a good thing for all types of jobs.

Consider these examples:

• Known for being easy to communicate with, promoting a collaborative and transparent work environment.
• Easy to communicate with, I foster open dialogue and collaborative efforts, ensuring effective communication within the team.

Effective Speaker

An effective speaker captivates audiences, delivering information with impact and influence.

Positioning yourself as an “effective speaker” underscores your proficiency in delivering clear, impactful messages, ensuring successful communication across diverse professional settings.

As an effective speaker, you excel in articulating ideas with precision, captivating audiences, and contributing to successful outcomes. Your ability to convey complex concepts seamlessly positions you as a valuable asset in roles involving public speaking, presentations, or any scenario where articulate expression is pivotal.

Consider integrating these examples:

• An effective speaker who can convey ideas persuasively in diverse professional settings.
• As an effective speaker, I deliver messages with clarity, resonating with diverse audiences and ensuring successful communication in various professional settings.

Eloquent Speaker

Eloquent speakers command attention with their eloquence and expressive communication style.

As an eloquent speaker, you excel in delivering articulate and impactful messages, captivating your audience with your expressive communication. This includes the ability to convey complex concepts seamlessly, making you a valuable asset in roles that involve public speaking, presentations, or any situation where articulate expression is crucial.

Describing yourself as an “eloquent speaker” signals to potential employers that you bring a high level of proficiency in verbal communication, adding a touch of sophistication, grace, and fluency to your expression.

• An eloquent speaker skilled in delivering compelling presentations to diverse audiences.
• As an eloquent speaker, I can articulate ideas with precision, delivering messages that resonate effectively with diverse audiences.

Empathic Listener and Persuasive Speaker

This phrase emphasizes both the ability to understand others’ perspectives and the capacity to influence through persuasive communication.

As an empathic listener, you excel in understanding diverse perspectives, fostering a compassionate and inclusive environment. Simultaneously, your ability as a persuasive speaker involves articulating ideas convincingly, influencing opinions, and driving positive outcomes.

Highlighting yourself as an “empathic listener and persuasive speaker” on your resume emphasizes your dual strength in understanding others and effectively conveying ideas, showcasing a comprehensive and impactful communication skill set.

This is particularly valuable in roles that require not only clear and persuasive expression but also the ability to connect with others on a deeper, empathetic level.

Consider incorporating these examples:

• An empathic listener and persuasive speaker, adept at building consensus and driving initiatives.
• As an empathic listener and persuasive speaker, I create a collaborative and inclusive atmosphere, ensuring that diverse voices are heard and considered.

Excellent Oral and Written Communication

This synonym for good communication skills highlights proficiency in both spoken and written forms of communication.

As an effective oral and written communicator, you excel in delivering clear and compelling messages verbally and in writing. This includes the ability to articulate ideas during discussions, presentations, and meetings, as well as to convey information accurately and persuasively through written documents.

By describing yourself as having “excellent oral and written communication,” you signal to potential employers that you bring a well-rounded communication approach, crucial for roles that involve diverse communication requirements such as consulting and report writing.

Consider these examples for integrating “excellent oral and written communication” into your resume:

• Possesses excellent oral and written communication skills, ensuring effective conveyance of ideas through various channels.
• Demonstrating excellent oral and written communication skills, I convey complex information with clarity, ensuring alignment within cross-functional teams.
• Excelling as an effective oral and written communicator, I contribute to seamless information flow within the team, enhancing overall collaboration and project success.

Excellent Presentation Skills

Strong presentation skills indicate the ability to engage and inform an audience effectively.

As someone with excellent presentation skills, you excel in articulating ideas persuasively, engaging your audience, and conveying information with clarity and confidence. This includes the ability to create visually appealing slides, maintain audience interest, and effectively communicate complex concepts.

Describing yourself as someone with “excellent presentation skills” underscores your ability to deliver compelling and impactful presentations, showcasing a valuable proficiency in communication.

It signals to potential employers that you bring a high level of proficiency in delivering professional and impactful presentations, making you an asset in roles that involve public speaking, client presentations, or team communication.

• Demonstrates excellent presentation skills, delivering impactful messages in a clear and organized manner.
• Possessing excellent presentation skills, I deliver dynamic presentations that captivate audiences and convey information with precision.

Excellent Speaker and Listener

A comprehensive term covering both aspects of communication – speaking and listening.

As an excellent speaker, you excel in presenting ideas, conveying information persuasively, and engaging your audience. Simultaneously, your proficiency as a listener involves actively seeking and comprehending diverse perspectives during conversations, meetings, and collaborative discussions.

Describing yourself as a “dynamic speaker and attentive listener” signals to potential employers that you bring a balanced communication approach, combining the skills necessary for clear expression and receptive understanding in verbal communication. This is particularly valuable in roles that demand effective collaboration and interpersonal communication.

• An excellent speaker and listener, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas within the team.
• As an excellent speaker and listener, I contribute to productive team dynamics by fostering open communication and ensuring that all voices are heard.

Expressive and Clear Communicator

An expressive communicator uses various means to convey thoughts and emotions.

Positioning yourself as an “expressive and clear communicator” on your resume emphasizes your capability to convey thoughts with ease and precision, ensuring a transparent exchange of ideas in the workplace.

As an expressive and clear communicator, you possess the proficiency to articulate your thoughts seamlessly. This involves the skill of distilling complex concepts into straightforward messages that resonate well with diverse audiences.

Describing yourself as an “expressive and clear communicator” communicates to potential employers that you bring the ability to break down information effortlessly, facilitating smooth understanding and collaboration within teams and being able to communicate on an emotive level. This trait is particularly advantageous in roles that require concise and impactful communication.

• An expressive professional who brings creativity and passion to communication, enhancing team collaboration.
• As an expressive and clear communicator, I navigate complex topics with simplicity, promoting a shared understanding among team members.
• Excelling as an expressive and clear communicator, I play a pivotal role in facilitating efficient decision-making processes through transparent and easily understandable communication.

Great Debater

This term underscores your ability to engage in constructive debates and discussions.

Highlighting yourself as a “great debater” on your resume underscores your ability not only to articulate ideas convincingly but also to actively engage in meaningful discussions.

As a great debater, you excel in presenting compelling arguments, influencing opinions, and navigating discussions with finesse. Your strength lies not only in expressing your viewpoint but also in understanding opposing perspectives and addressing them thoughtfully.

Describing yourself as a “great debater” signals to potential employers that you bring a dynamic communication approach, capable of fostering constructive debates and contributing positively to team dynamics. This skill set is particularly beneficial in roles that require critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to communicate effectively in challenging situations.

• A great debater, contributing valuable insights and promoting critical thinking within the team.
• As a great debater, I thrive in presenting well-reasoned arguments, facilitating constructive debates, and promoting a culture of open communication.

Happy to Share My Feelings

This is probably the least formal synonym for communication skills on this list. The phrase conveys emotional intelligence and a willingness to express one’s thoughts openly.

Describing yourself as “happy to share my feelings” shows your openness and willingness to communicate emotions.

In the workplace, this can help foster a positive and supportive work environment and indicates your commitment to transparent and authentic communication.

It signals to potential employers that you possess strong interpersonal skills, promoting understanding and empathy in professional relationships. However, it is probably best used at an interview rather than in a resume.

If you want to use it, consider incorporating these examples into your resume:

• Happy to share my feelings, creating an inclusive and supportive work environment.
• Happy to share my feelings, I contribute to a positive and supportive work environment, fostering authentic communication within the team.

Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal skills involve building and maintaining positive relationships with others.

Describing yourself as having “strong interpersonal skills” emphasizes your adeptness in building and maintaining positive relationships within and outside the organization.

As someone with strong interpersonal skills, you excel in fostering connections, understanding the needs and perspectives of others, and effectively collaborating towards shared goals. This includes the ability to communicate empathetically, resolve conflicts diplomatically, and build a supportive and cooperative work environment.

When you include this on your resume, it signals to potential employers that you bring a valuable set of skills essential for successful teamwork, client interactions, and overall workplace harmony.

• Exhibit strong interpersonal skills, fostering a harmonious and cooperative team atmosphere.
• As someone with strong interpersonal skills, I contribute to a positive work culture by building strong relationships with team members and stakeholders.

Negotiation Skills

Negotiation can form a key part of communication, and negotiation skills are crucial for resolving conflicts and reaching mutually beneficial agreements.

As someone with strong negotiation skills, you excel in reaching mutually beneficial agreements, understanding the needs of both parties and finding common ground. This includes the ability to communicate persuasively, problem-solve, and maintain a collaborative spirit throughout the negotiation process.

Describing yourself as someone with effective “negotiation skills” signals to potential employers that you bring a strategic and diplomatic approach to facilitating successful negotiations. Such skills are essential for roles that involve contract discussions, partnership agreements, or any situation requiring conflict resolution.

• Possesses strong negotiation skills, ensuring successful resolution of conflicts and promoting collaboration.
• As an effective negotiator, I leverage strong negotiation skills to build rapport and facilitate agreements that benefit all parties involved.

Persuasive Communicator

Persuasive communicators influence others effectively to gain support for ideas or initiatives.

As a persuasive communicator, you excel in presenting compelling arguments, influencing opinions, and driving desired outcomes. This includes the ability to articulate ideas convincingly, adapt your communication style to your audience, and navigate discussions with finesse.

Branding yourself as a “highly persuasive communicator” on your resume emphasizes your ability to influence and convince others effectively, showcasing a valuable skill set in communication.

It is particularly valuable in roles that involve negotiation, sales, or any situation where the ability to influence is crucial.

• A persuasive communicator, capable of inspiring others and driving positive change.
• As a highly persuasive communicator, I excel in presenting ideas with conviction and driving consensus among diverse stakeholders.

Professional Speaking Skills

This term emphasizes a high level of proficiency in delivering speeches or presentations in a polished and composed manner.

As someone with strong professional speaking skills, you excel in presenting ideas clearly, engaging your audience, and delivering messages with impact. This includes the ability to convey complex information in an easily digestible way, making you an asset in roles that involve public speaking, presentations, or client-facing interactions.

Branding yourself as someone with “professional speaking skills” highlights your proficiency in delivering information professionally and effectively.

• Known for professional speaking skills, delivering impactful presentations with confidence and clarity
• As someone who possesses professional speaking skills, I can deliver compelling presentations that captivate audiences and convey information with precision.

Social Skills

Social skills encompass the ability to interact and connect with others effectively. In this sense it’s quite similar to interpersonal skills, but with slightly less emphasis on communication.

Highlighting yourself as someone with good “social skills” on your resume emphasizes your ability to navigate and excel in various social situations, both within and outside the workplace.

As someone with strong social skills, you excel in building connections, networking effectively, and adapting your communication style to different social contexts. This includes the ability to establish rapport, convey ideas persuasively, and leave a positive impression in social interactions.

This is valuable in roles that require relationship-building, networking, and client interactions.

• Exhibit strong social skills, creating a positive and inclusive workplace culture.
• Possessing strong social skills, I excel in establishing meaningful connections with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.

Versatile Communicator

A straightforward synonym for “communication skills”, a “versatile communicator,” encompasses both verbal and non-verbal communication skills.

Utilizing the term “versatile communicator” on your resume showcases your adaptability and proficiency in conveying information in various contexts and through different channels.

Being a versatile communicator entails more than just relaying messages; it involves tailoring your communication style to suit diverse audiences and situations. This skill includes written and verbal communication, as well as the ability to convey complex ideas clearly and concisely.

Describing yourself as a “versatile communicator” communicates to potential employers that you possess the flexibility to navigate different communication scenarios effectively. This skill is valuable in roles that require interaction with stakeholders, clients, or varied team members.

Consider these examples for incorporating “versatile communicator” into your resume:

• As a versatile communicator, I adeptly convey complex concepts in a manner that resonates with diverse audiences, ensuring clear understanding.
• As a versatile communicator, I excel in written and verbal communication, adapting my style to suit the unique needs of each situation.

Incorporating these diverse synonyms for communication skills into your professional narrative will allow you to present a more comprehensive picture of your communication abilities.

Tailor these terms to your specific experiences and achievements to make your resume or self-introduction truly stand out.

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• Resume Tips

How to Include Public Speaking Skills on Your Resume (+ Examples)

While it might send you into a spin and get your knees knocking at the very thought of having to stand up in front of people and give a presentation, the skill of public speaking is considered a valuable asset within many professions. Public speaking on your resume is a great quality to add to your repertoire. Many employers place a premium value on public speaking skills. 

Candidates who possess polished and articulate public speaking skills are often placed in prominent roles within a company, with many finding themselves on a fast-track to securing leadership positions. This is because a leader often needs to speak and present to a roomful of people. You can’t ask someone who’s shy and retiring to do this. Or someone with a distinct lack of confidence. So you turn to the employees who have shown promise and know how to hold a crowd.

But what if you are angling for another role? How do you include public speaking skills on a resume?

No need to fret. You have come to the right place. We have the know-how you need to make employers aware of your valuable communication style by showing how to present public speaking on your resume.

What is public speaking?

First up, let’s quantify what public speaking actually is. It is the ability to stand up in front of an audience and deliver an oral speech or presentation. It works whether that is a live audience or a remote one, as you are still presenting to a large number of people in public.

It can be used to sell a product or a service to a client, galvanize your team, or pitch for a new contract. Presentations can incorporate many different topics and have many different goals – to entertain, educate, inform, or even influence listeners.

The presentation needs to be engaging, powerful, and memorable. You have got to hold the audience in the palm of your hand so as not to lose their interest. These are great assets to have throughout your career.

These types of presentations can be the difference between failure and success. So, presenting information effectively and clearly is key when connecting with your audience and getting your message out there.

Why do public speaking skills matter?

It’s important to understand why public speaking skills are in such high demand. For someone comfortable with communicating ideas effortlessly, public speaking skills might seem like something that everyone can do, at the drop of a hat. After all, we are communicating with other people every single day of the year.

However, lots of people are not that comfortable when speaking in a public setting. Many shrink from being called upon in class, business, or conference meetings, or other settings where there is a large group. Others are wary of being asked to make presentations, train up other employees, or take on a role that puts them under the spotlight.

Call it stage fright, if you will. The average professional just isn’t all that excited about being the center of attention in any training session or discussion. And employers understand that fact. Most organizations have dealt with employees who struggle to communicate ideas when they’re put in those types of settings. As a result, those employers recognize just how rare and important public speaking skills truly are--and really value those job candidates who possess them.

Read our experts' opinion on the best skills to put on your resume in 2023 .

Public speaking and communication skills list

Unlike some types of skills, public speaking is not a single skill that you can simply list on a resume. Instead, public speaking skills encompass a variety of skills that combine to make you come across as an effective public communicator on your resume . Moreover, you are unlikely to find too many job postings that specifically ask for public speaking skills.

Instead, many of these postings will mention relevant key skills that might make you an effective public speaker. By learning to recognize these communication capabilities, you can more effectively convey your public speaking ability to a potential employer.

They include:

The ability to read your audience

One of the most important public speaking skills is the ability to accurately read your audience, or “read the room” as this modern phrase sums it up, by picking up on subtle, nonverbal cues of your attendees. You should be able to determine what they need to hear, adjusting your communication during the speech to accommodate their reaction. Do they seem engaged? Are they visibly bored? Restless? Confused?

A speaker who can read the room well knows how to stay on the right track to get across their message.

An articulate presentation of ideas

Are you an articulate speaker? In this scenario, articulate doesn’t just mean the ability to speak clearly. It means being able to convey complex ideas in an easily understood manner. If your skills include being articulate, be sure to mention those attributes of public speaking in your resume.

An engaging presence and style

Do you command presence when you are on a stage, enter a room, or during a meeting? Have you got that certain je ne sais quoi or X factor? The best public speakers, trainers, and educators have an engaging way about them. They also have a style that captures and sustains the attention of any audience. Employers can always utilize employees with these types of public speaking skills.

The ability to write a speech or presentation

Whether you’re a solid writer or someone who composes presentations on the fly, based on something you scribbled on the back of an envelope 10 minutes ago, composition skills are critical. If your public speaking skills include the ability to compose presentations, be sure to convey that information on your resume. And don’t forget to include key composition skills like research ability, organization of ideas, and storytelling.

Knowledge of presentation technology

These days, no set of public speaking skills is complete without some sort of familiarity with technology. For example, skills in this area include the ability to create presentation slides and manage the functional operation of a presentation.

But it can strike horror into the heart of any audience member when a speaker stands up, declaring, “I’ve just got 100 slides to get through this morning.” While PowerPoint presentations are commonly used for seminars, meetings, and other public speaking engagements, keep these to a minimum, reduce the number of words, and pack them full of images.

Your slides should not make that much sense without you telling the story alongside. You want members of the audience to be focused on you speaking--not on the slides.

Key Takeaway

KEY TAKEAWAY

Don't just say that you have public speaking skills. Instead, describe those specific skills that demonstrate your oratory abilities.

Job descriptions might mention leading meetings, presenting information, or speaking at conferences. This can encompass many job titles, such as teachers and educators, managers, and sales and marketing positions.

Examples of public speaking skills on a resume

Now that you have a clearer idea of what public speaking skills are, let’s put it into practice by showing off some examples of how to include public speaking on your resume.

You can tailor the examples below to suit your own situations, positions, and responsibilities.

Showcases well-honed public speaking skills, developed over the course of a 10-year career as a sales trainer, marketing consultant, and seminar speaker.

Presented technical studies and project proposals on a regular rolling programme across the year at ABC Corp.

Created and led the mentor advisory board at XYZ Inc, training more than 100 corporate mentors.

Conducted client / employee workshops for ABC Corp on a bi-annual basis.

Skilled in presentation composition, communications technology including PowerPoint, and engaging, articulate audience presentations.

Final thoughts

Public speaking skills can be a quality that sets you apart from job search competitors. When you recognize that fact, and properly include them in your resume, those skills can be the key to landing you an interview and the great job that you deserve.

Best of luck with your ongoing job search.

Still not quite sure how to add public speaking onto your resume? Well, it’s your lucky day. Delve into a freebie by uploading your resume to ZipJob’s free resume review and see where it takes you.

Related posts:

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The 100 Best Jobs For 2023

Elizabeth Openshaw, Editor & Content Writer, Elizabeth Openshaw, Editor & Content Writer

Elizabeth Openshaw is an Elite CV Consultant with over 12 years of experience based in Brighton, UK, with an English degree and an addiction to Wordle! She is a former Journalist of 17 years with the claim to fame that she interviewed three times Grand Slam winner and former World No.1 tennis player, Andy Murray, when he was just 14 years old. You can connect with her at Elizabeth Openshaw | LinkedIn .

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12 Synonyms for “Communication Skills” on Your Resume

If you’re looking for another word for “communication skills,” you’re in the right place. Sure, it isn’t bad to use the phrase, but other options might help your resume sound more unique.

This article will explore some great synonyms to help you.

Communication Skills Synonyms

• Empathic listener and persuasive speaker
• Excellent speaker and listener
• Able to convey my thoughts easily
• Excellent oral and written communication
• Great debater
• Communicator
• Happy to share my feelings
• Easy to communicate with
• Professional speaking skills
• Effective speaker

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• “Communication skills” are soft skills you pick up over time from schools and workplaces.
• “Articulate” is one word for a person with good communication skills that works on a resume.
• “Empathic listener and persuasive speaker” is a great phrase that shows you are a good communicator.

You should keep reading to learn more about the most effective synonyms. We’ve explained more about the best ones and how to use them appropriately.

Also, the final section may interest you if you want to learn more about “communication skills.” We’ve explained whether they are soft skills and how to write about them.

“Articulate” is another way to say “communication skills.” It shows you can express yourself clearly in the workplace.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “articulate” as “expressing oneself readily, clearly, and effectively.”

It shows you can use appropriate words and phrases to share your thoughts with the group. So, you’ll often be leading the charge when you’re working on group projects.

Naturally, calling yourself “articulate” goes well with skills like being a team leader . Many employers will generally look fondly at this trait, as it shows you can help colleagues understand something.

We certainly recommend using “articulate” and “communication skills” in similar situations. They are both useful phrases, allowing you to mix things up in CVs (or cover letters).

The following examples will show you how to use it:

Being articulate allows me to convey my thoughts easily to the team. Therefore, I make a great leader in group situations.

I am articulate and enjoy explaining ideas thoroughly to colleagues. I hope this comes across from my experience.

Empathic Listener and Persuasive Speaker

You could say you’re an “empathic listener and persuasive speaker” in your resume. It’s a great phrasal alternative that uses impressive wording to demonstrate your communication skills.

“Empathic” and “persuasive” are great adjectives here. They show an employer that you can talk about your ideas and listen to others when necessary. Thus, you’ll work well on a team , so it’s worth including when applying for a team-based job.

Of course, there will always be those that think a phrase like this is a bit over the top. The wording might be too much for some, but there’s an easy workaround.

Instead of using both terms, you might want to split the phrase in two. From that, you’ll end up with two alternatives rather than one. For instance:

• I’m an empathic listener .
• I’m a persuasive speaker .

We recommend using this phrase and “communication skills” in the same situations. They are effective and synonymous, allowing you to switch between them at will.

These examples will help you understand a bit more about it:

As an empathic listener and persuasive speaker , I find it easy to let people know what I want to happen in the workplace.

I’m an empathic listener and persuasive speaker . Without my input, many teams would struggle to know what to do next.

Are “Communication Skills” Soft Skills?

“Communication skills” are soft skills . They are often picked up over time and apply to many careers.

After all, you can take communication skills with you wherever you go. It’s not just the workplace that they’re useful for either. You can use them in everyday life to help you converse with people and explain your thoughts or feelings.

So, it’s worth including “communication skills” on your resume. That way, you’ll show an employer that you can communicate better than most.

Here’s a quick demonstration of how the phrase works on a resume:

I have excellent communication skills . I enjoy talking through options with my team.

Generally, if you include them in your resume, you should modify them with an adjective. On its own, the phrase is a bit bland. So, try one of the variations:

• Excellent communication skills
• Great communication skills
• Expert communication skills

You can also bookmark this page to remind yourself of some of the best synonyms to use. Then, you’ll always have something exciting to write.

• 12 Synonyms for “Assisted” on Your Resume
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• 12 Synonyms for “Easy to Work With” on Your Resume
• 11 Synonyms for “Experience” on Your Resume

We are a team of experienced communication specialists.

Our mission is to help you choose the right phrase or word for your emails and texts.

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Resume Synonyms for Excellent

Used 'Excellent' to describe your skills or performance? While positive, it's broad. Our guide lists synonyms that offer a more precise portrayal of your strengths.

Table of Contents

Using excellent on a resume.

'Excellent' is a positive descriptor indicating top-tier performance or quality. On a resume, it emphasizes your high standards. However, to avoid seeming generic, pair 'Excellent' with specifics—whether it's skills, achievements, or feedback. Diversifying your adjectives can provide a well-rounded view of your proficiency.

Tailor Your Resume Content to the Job Description

Strong vs Weak Uses of Excellent

Examples of using excellent on a resume.

• Managed a team of 10 sales representatives, demonstrating excellent leadership skills and achieving a 20% increase in team sales within the first quarter.
• Developed and implemented an excellent customer service training program, resulting in a 30% increase in customer satisfaction ratings.
• Exhibited excellent problem-solving abilities by successfully resolving over 90% of escalated customer complaints within the first contact.
• Did an excellent job at my previous work.
• Had excellent attendance at all my previous jobs.

How Excellent Is Commonly Misused

Excellent communication skills.

This statement is too generic and does not provide any specific information about the applicant's communication abilities. It is better to provide examples or specific instances where effective communication skills were utilized, such as "Delivered presentations to cross-functional teams, resulting in increased collaboration and alignment."

Excellent problem-solving abilities

Similar to the previous example, this statement is too vague and does not demonstrate the applicant's problem-solving skills. It is more effective to provide specific examples of problems solved and the outcomes achieved, such as "Identified and resolved complex technical issues, reducing system downtime by 30%."

Excellent team player

While being a team player is a valuable trait, simply stating "excellent team player" does not provide any evidence or specific examples of collaboration or teamwork. It is better to mention specific instances where the applicant contributed to a team's success, such as "Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop and implement a new marketing campaign, resulting in a 15% increase in sales."

When to Replace Excellent with Another Synonym

Providing customer service:.

Instead of using "Excellent" to describe their customer service skills, job seekers can use synonyms like "Exceptional," "Outstanding," or "Superior." These alternatives highlight their ability to go above and beyond in meeting customer needs, resolving issues, and ensuring customer satisfaction.

Delivering presentations:

When describing their presentation skills, job seekers can opt for synonyms such as "Compelling," "Engaging," or "Dynamic." These terms emphasize their ability to captivate an audience, effectively communicate information, and deliver impactful presentations that leave a lasting impression.

Problem-solving:

Instead of using "Excellent" to describe their problem-solving abilities, job seekers can use synonyms like "Resourceful," "Innovative," or "Adaptable." These alternatives highlight their capacity to think creatively, find unique solutions, and adapt to changing circumstances, showcasing their ability to overcome challenges and achieve desired outcomes.

Best Resume Synonyms for Excellent

How to replace excellent with a stronger, more relevant synonym, replacing excellent in your resume summary.

Using Excellent

Using a Strong Synonym

Replacing Excellent in Your Work Experience

• Excellent in managing a team of software developers to deliver projects on time and within budget.
• Proficient in leading a dedicated team of software developers, consistently delivering projects on schedule and within budget constraints.

Powerful Excellent Synonyms for Different Job Categories

Best excellent synonyms for marketing resumes, best excellent synonyms for customer service resumes, find the right synonyms for any job, frequently asked questions.

The best replacement for 'excellent' on a resume could be 'superior' or 'outstanding'. For instance, instead of saying "I have excellent communication skills", you could say "I have superior communication skills" or "I have outstanding communication skills". These words convey a high level of proficiency and stand out to hiring managers.

It's OK to use 'Excellent' on a resume when describing your skills, achievements, or qualifications, but avoid overuse as it may seem insincere. For instance, you could say "Excellent communication skills" or "Achieved excellent sales results". However, it's often more impactful to show rather than tell, such as stating a specific achievement that demonstrates your excellence.

To gauge if 'Excellent' is relevant for your resume, consider if it accurately describes your skills, achievements, or work ethic. It should be used to highlight significant accomplishments or unique skills that set you apart. For example, "Excellent leadership skills demonstrated by leading a team to exceed sales targets by 20%." Remember, it's crucial to back up any such claims with concrete evidence or examples.

Which Job Titles use Excellent the Most?

Top 5 titles/functions with the most mentions of excellent on their resume:, related resume synonyms, explore full resume examples to find other improvements.

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adjective as in remarkably good

Strongest matches

• accomplished
• distinguished
• exceptional
• magnificent
• outstanding
• superlative

Weak matches

• distinctive
• first-class
• incomparable
• meritorious
• transcendent
• world-class

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Example sentences.

Though organic cotton can be a little more expensive, it’s excellent for all skin types, including those who are more sensitive.

Just because you—like me—waited until the last minute to get a Valentine’s Day gift for your significant other doesn’t mean it can’t be excellent.

Only new closer Brad Hand was just as excellent as usual in 2020, leading the American League in saves.

Duplex, for example, in its early days came under criticism for how its excellent quality might actually be deceptive, because it wasn’t clear to users they were speaking to a machine logging their responses in a data harnessing exercise.

That means future Fords will feature Sync systems that use Google Maps and Android's excellent voice recognition, as well as opening up the platform to third-party developers.

That's fine—excellent TV shows are snubbed all the time by these awards organizations.

But truth be told, I never came close to mastering the language despite my excellent grades.

As this excellent piece in Mother Jones describes, however, Holsey had outrageously poor representation during his trial.

The text amply surveys the various cultural exponents of tattooing accompanied by excellent images.

In his 2010 evaluation, Wright was praised for “excellent knowledge of RRC rules, regulations and policies.”

We have been in the profession some years, Mr. Pickwick, and have been honoured with the confidence of many excellent clients.

I was a little riled at first myself, but the second and last lady who came out put me in excellent humor.

She played very well, keeping excellent waltz time and infusing an expression into the strains which was indeed inspiring.

Excellent as he was as cavalry commander in the field, Murat had no head for great combinations.

This alone could hinder the execution of his appointment, for in other things he has excellent qualifications for the dignity.

Related Words

Words related to excellent are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word excellent . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

adjective as in exhibiting expertise in some activity

adjective as in great

adjective as in held in great respect

• cat's pajamas
• commendable
• crackerjack
• out of sight
• out of this world
• praiseworthy
• super-duper

adjective as in ahead in position, time, manner

• avant-garde
• breakthrough
• cutting edge
• leading edge
• progressive
• state-of-the-art
• unconventional

adjective as in very good, great

Viewing 5 / 150 related words

On this page you'll find 219 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to excellent, such as: accomplished, admirable, attractive, distinguished, exceptional, and exemplary.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.