Can you climb the corporate ladder without speaking skills?
Sharon (M.) Weinstein, MS, RN, CRNI-R?, CSP?,CVP, FACW, FAAN
Global Keynote Speaker ? CSP ? ? TEDx Speaker (Nov 3, 2025) ? Diagnostic Design Thinking ? HBA ? ANA Innovation ? Infusing Health and Reducing Stress in the Workforce and Workplace ? Best Selling Author ? Sharecare
What does it take to reach the top?
It takes:
- Leadership
- Strategic thinking
- Ability to execute
- Technical skills
- Team and relationship building
And, yes, it takes the ability to communicate. We are all communicators – all of the time.
To survive and thrive in the C-suite, you must possess the power of persuasion and excellent presentation skills. You must be able to diverse audiences, internally among stakeholders, and externally among your publics.
Presentation skills are the key to success, and if you have not yet honed your skills, now is the time to begin the process.
Think about the ways in which you use the written and spoken word in your work environment. Could strong communication skills facilitate our job, minimize confusion, enhance clarity and increase collaboration among your peers?
As former Associate Dean of the Speaker Academy for the National Speakers Association-DC, I’ve been involved in the development of aspiring speakers, many of whom will reside in that coveted C-suite. What are some of our top tips for success?
- Adjust your language and drop the jargon; speak and understand the language of your industry
- Communicate effectively with your peers; know what matters to them and communicate to their needs/style
- Consider cadence and tone of voice; think about your corporate culture and adapt to keep others engaged
- Know your audience; are you speaking to clients, staff, consumers or the media? The C-Suite is your company’s brand, and you are representing that brand
- Do more than listen; at the executive level, you need to understand the fine art of inquiry to fully grasp the context and content
- Plan your professional presentations by developing, rehearsing and practicing
Welcome feedback from those within your circle, live and through video. Are you ready to become a top communicator in the C-Suite and beyond? Are you ready to explore the NSA-DC Speaker Academy and master the module content needed to take you to the next level? If you answered yes, reach out to me now and join our January class. A wait-list is pending, and we want to accommodate you and your communication needs. Visit www.nsadc.org to learn more and to put the communicate wheel in motion!