In the era of AI slop this skill will set you apart

Presentation skills have always been a vital part of career success. Strong communication abilities help leaders set their vision, inspire their team, and ensure everyone works together effectively. On a symbolic level, skilled presenters appear competent, capable, and charismatic. In fact, some research suggests that the delivery of a presentation matters more than the content itself.

However, public speaking can be a daunting experience for many individuals – the fear of stumbling over words or drawing a blank can keep them up at night. In fact, psychologists use public speaking as a way to induce stress in laboratory settings.

The rise of AI has brought about a new challenge for those who fear public speaking. AI is becoming increasingly integrated into our workflows, assisting with research, providing feedback, and even generating content on our behalf. However, recent studies indicate that people tend to discount others' work when they believe it was produced by AI.

In one study, participants read identical pieces of writing, but some were told a human wrote it while others were told AI wrote it. When labeled as AI-assisted, reader evaluations significantly dropped, even though the text was the same. This phenomenon, known as the "AI disclosure penalty," highlights the growing suspicion towards AI-generated work.

Consequently, if you don't personally witness someone's work, you're more likely to assume AI was involved, regardless of the truth.

These findings have important implications for how we evaluate work presented in person. With AI potentially undermining the credibility of written work, more attention should be placed on managing performance in front of others. If your work cannot be verified as your own, its evaluation may be heavily influenced by the audience. As a result, the link between presentation skills and leadership evaluations has become even more significant.

The good news is that presentation skills can be learned and improved upon. While many people shy away from presentation skills training due to awkwardness or introversion, research suggests that extroversion is not a prerequisite for being a strong presenter. What truly matters is the ability to communicate thoughts clearly and concisely.

If you can distill complex data into a coherent summary within a short time frame, you should consider honing your presentation skills. Specifically, the ability to respond calmly and confidently to impromptu questions stands out as a skill that will set you apart. By handling unexpected inquiries with poise, you demonstrate that the content of your presentation is genuinely yours, which can leave a lasting impression on your audience.

To prepare for such situations, consider taking an improv class or practicing presentation skills in virtual reality environments, both of which have been shown to improve performance and decrease anxiety.