“Why are communication skills becoming the focal point of all new age jobs?” - In conversation with Ganesh Datta Lakkur

The21st century world has become so focused on practical expertise that it has begun to overlook those who possess these traits but are unable to source the right talent because of lack the communication skills in the talent pool and their inability to express it with the rest of the world. Effective communication has emerged as a cornerstone of success in today's fast-paced and interconnected world. In personal relationships, professional endeavors, and global interactions alike, the ability to communicate ideas, thoughts, and emotions with clarity and compassion is more important than ever before

Ganesh Datta Lakkur, an author, life coach, two-time TEDx speaker, and educator who is currently the Assistant Vice President and Head of Soft Skills Training at Imarticus Learning Pvt Ltd., discusses how communication skills have become indispensable in achieving professional success.

Being in the higher education and upskilling sector, Ganesh has witnessed people (precisely young adults) struggling to find employment in the corporate world, not due to a lack of skills or domain knowledge, but due to their inability to convey this information to those who provide an employment. The ability to communicate effectively and with self-assurance is an essential life skill, especially for youngsters as it shapes their personal, academic, and professional lives.

Mastering the art of communication helps an individual excel in four areas, starting with career advancement, fostering strong relationships, problem-solving - decision making and lastly enhancing confidence and self-expression. Developing strong communication skills empowers individuals to express themselves confidently and assertively. They can convey their thoughts, opinions, and emotions in a clear and concise manner, leading to increased self-confidence. In addition to developing creativity and problem-solving, effective communication helps young people develop a strong sense of identity and personal values.

Improving communication skills requires consistent effort and practice and Ganesh believes that enhancing this skill set is an easy task and it just needs a right plan and execution strategy. Here is an approach to learning that he recommends. It is called L.E.E.P* and its stands for learn, experiment, evaluate and perform.

“Talk without FEAR”, is the book written by Ganesh Datta Lakkur, that helps people in enhancing their communication skills by using the public speaking approach. By consistently implementing the strategies, individuals can improve their communication abilities and nurture more meaningful and effective interactions.

Ganesh concludes by emphasizing that "improving communication skills is a continuous process that requires practice, self-reflection, and willingness to learn and adapt. The most effective method to develop communication skills is through public speaking. Public speaking is not merely an ability/skill; it is an art that anyone can learn and master with a little bit of guidance, a step-by-step approach, feedback, and mentoring. The book, Talk without Fear, provides an indepth understanding of how one can quickly master public speaking, become a public speaker, and confidently communicate in any given situation.”

*What does L.E.E.P. stand for? Ganesh curated and devised the L.E.E.P learning methodology, which has proven to be successful. Learn (Discover), Experiment, Evaluate, and Perform (Execute). When you apply this specific learning methodology for enhancing communication skills, you are not only learning by acquiring information and methods for enhancing communication, but also by experimenting through various exercises and evaluating the said exercises using various metrics along with consistent feedbacks, and when the time comes, it compels you to perform.