Teachers: You Already Have the Communication Skills for Corporate Success
By Dayle Janus- Program Coordinator for Corporate Training and Executive Education
As teachers, we are often told how important communication is in the classroom—whether it’s giving clear instructions, guiding group discussions, or handling difficult conversations with parents. But have you ever stopped to think about how these very same skills translate perfectly into the corporate world?
Clear Communication: The Core of Corporate Success In teaching, you learn how to communicate effectively to diverse audiences. You explain complex topics in a way that students of different backgrounds and abilities can understand. You also adjust your communication style to suit individual students, whether that means giving verbal praise, offering corrective feedback, or leading engaging discussions.
In the corporate world, effective communication is just as critical. Whether it’s delivering a presentation to stakeholders, leading a team meeting, or drafting a clear email, communication forms the backbone of almost every corporate role. Businesses are always looking for individuals who can explain ideas clearly, motivate teams, and bridge communication gaps across departments or between clients and the company.
Presentation Skills: Teachers as Natural Presenters Every day in the classroom is a presentation. Whether you’re using slides, talking students through a topic, or managing classroom discussions, you know how to hold an audience’s attention and guide them through learning. Teachers know how to adapt presentations to different learning styles, which is exactly what corporate presenters need to do in business meetings or when pitching to clients.
Strong presenters in corporate settings know how to engage their audience, keep attention focused, and deliver information in a structured, digestible manner—all skills teachers already have in abundance.
Resume Power Words: Communication and Presentation Skills
When transitioning into corporate jobs, using the right language on your resume is critical. Here are some action verbs that highlight your communication and presentation skills effectively:
- Articulated: Articulated complex ideas to diverse audiences, ensuring comprehension and engagement.
- Presented: Presented information and reports to stakeholders in a clear, engaging format.
- Facilitated: Facilitated discussions and decision-making processes within cross-functional teams.
- Communicated: Communicated with various departments to ensure alignment and effective project execution.
- Delivered: Delivered compelling presentations that informed, persuaded, and motivated action.
- Engaged: Engaged audiences through tailored messaging and dynamic presentation techniques.
- Collaborated: Collaborated with team members to streamline communication processes and drive successful outcomes.
Introducing: The Communication and Presentation Skills Log
To help teachers like you collect quantifiable evidence of your communication and presentation skills, I’ve created a Communication and Presentation Skills Log template. This simple tracking tool will allow you to gather data on your communication activities, so you can provide hard evidence of your expertise when interviewing for corporate roles.
The log template includes sections to track:
- The date and type of communication (e.g., lesson presentation, parent email, team meeting).
- The audience (students, parents, colleagues).
- Engagement Rating.
- Outcomes/ Notes section (quiz results, project success, audience feedback).
Over time, you’ll be able to present measurable achievements, such as:
- “Led 20 classroom discussions with an average engagement rating of 4.5/5.”
- “Delivered 8 staff presentations with a 98% positive feedback score.”
Download the Template
To help you get started, download the Communication and Presentation Skills Log Template. This tool will guide you through tracking your communication efforts and allow you to demonstrate your corporate readiness with real data.