Trevor's technical ability was never in doubt. He aced the pre-interview tests.
His character and personality suited the company: humble, polite, collaborative, friendly.
He got the job.
The team welcomed Trevor, got him on-boarded and familiarised with their ways of working. But he was struggling in one area: speaking up with confidence.
Why?
- Fear of looking foolish
- Worry that people will see a gap in his knowledge
- Trouble thinking on his feet
Trevor is not an outlier.
The numbers back it up. The Hays 2025 Skills Report surveyed thousands of hiring managers in NZ and Australia. 84% flagged communication and teamwork as critical for the future of work. A separate analysis of nearly two million job ads found communication to be the most requested skill of all.
"Hang on, David… why are you telling me this?"
I've been teaching communication skills to over 300 engineers, product folk and leaders over the last 8 years. But I'm learning that half-day or one-day workshops are not the best approach for lasting impact. Real change needs a bit more time and a bit more practice.
I'm putting together something that goes beyond a single session – a bite-size, repeatable approach that sticks.
Watch this space. There's more good stuff to come.