I cringe and want to melt into the crevice of the couch every time I witness some athletically-gifted, but verbally-challenged ignoramus molest the English language in totality, either during TV interviews or in the newspaper. With their aggravated assaults on words, their felonious trafficking in Ebonics, and their mindless mispronunciations crashing head-on with our sensibilities, they unwittingly project a negative image. More importantly, they negate their ability to harvest financial rewards commensurate with their physical skills.
This concept is extremely relevant in the traditional business world. Better speakers get better pay. Lee Iacocca, the legendary businessman who rescued Chrysler from extinction, once said the greatest intangible that any employee can possess is superior communication skills. Rightly or wrongly, people equipped with exceptional communication skills are often promoted above more qualified candidates. O.J. Simpson (prior to his infamous murder trial) was said to have taken comprehensive speech classes, which resulted in him becoming a popular sideline reporter for “Monday Night Football.”
One of the reasons (besides his obviously unparalleled physical gifts) that Michael Jordan became the standard-bearer for commercial endorsements is his near-preternatural grace with the media and his ability to articulate in a succinct, eloquent way. MJ’s mastery of basic word usage made him the most sought after pitchman on Madison Avenue that the sports world had ever seen up until that time. This inestimable attribute is also discernible in the likes of Tiger Woods and LeBron James — both of whom command colossal sums from advertisers. This is not a coincidence by any stretch. Allen Iverson is just as physically talented as the aforementioned. But A.I.’s sandpaperish voice and his penchant for regurgitating words out of his face in indiscriminant order, severely retards his mass-market appeal.
Where can you go to improve interpersonal and speaking skills? The Public Speaking International (www.publicspeakinginternational.com.) and Toastmasters International (www.toastmasters.org) are just two of the forums that millions of businesspeople utilize to improve their speaking skills. Public Speaking International helps speakers “discover how to engage and inspire listeners as you express yourself with ease, presence, and complete confidence.” Toastmasters International, which is based in Santa Ana, Calif., boasts over 220,000 members at 11,300 clubs in over 90 countries, and helps people become masters at speaking in front of audiences. The skill no doubt catapults many of them into higher pay, better jobs, promotions, perks and increased travel.
It’s simple. If you want to increase your pay and your marketability, improve your proficiency with the English language.
