With college graduation time approaching, it is important for young people entering the workforce to understand that their voices matter. But only when they can use them to effectively and clearly convey their ideas. 

Seven out of 10 employers place great importance on verbal communication skills in young workers, according to the National Association of Colleges + Employers. Those of us who have been in the workforce know that being able to communicate your ideas effectively can accelerate a career. The reverse is true: Workers who cannot share their thoughts in a persuasive manner may never reach their potential, even if they have promising ideas.

As someone who has been a public speaking coach, I have seen the struggles of talented, hardworking employees who feel stymied because they can’t seem to get superiors and colleagues to listen. One woman I coached, who was a compliance officer at a tech company, would be ignored at meetings by colleagues who simply talked right over her. Another student I had became so nervous when presenting to his managers that he spoke in a slow and monotonous tone that would put everyone to sleep.

Fortunately, many colleges and universities do offer courses on public speaking or communications skills, but those are rarely more than an introduction for many students. Sadly, I have seen professors tell their classes that if anyone feels uncomfortable speaking up, that’s OK.

But it is not.

The simple fact is that every young person needs to be able to communicate to reach his or her potential. And by everyone, I am not just referring to college graduates. 

Strong communications skills can boost every person’s chance of being a success in life. A plumber who can clearly explain to her customer what the problem is with the leak under her sink will go further than an inarticulate one. Why? Because she will be able to gain the trust of customers. 

The good news is that the main ways to become a better speaker don’t cost a lot of money. There are plenty of free instructional videos online that provide the basic techniques. The key is practice. Lots of it.

I tell my students to stand up and speak every chance they get. At work, at parties, at their religious services. Any time someone asks, say yes.

For more structured practice, someone interested in becoming a better speaker can join a Toastmasters International chapter. Toastmasters, which has been around for more than a century, offers regular meetings where you can practice both planned speeches and extemporaneous responses to questions before a sympathetic audience that will provide constructive feedback. The closest chapter is in Georgetown. The cost of joining is different for every club but is usually less than the cost of going to the movies once a month. I have belonged to the organization for years and highly recommend it.

For those who prefer written instructions, there are plenty of instruction manuals that provide the basics.

The other bit of good news is that everyone can get better with practice.

That compliance officer I mentioned earlier: I had her practice raising her voice by standing at the far end of the room and talking to me until she got used to speaking louder. She spoke individually to her colleagues, explaining that their interruptions were slowing down their projects so it would be better if they stayed quiet when she spoke. I also had her change her attitude: She came to understand that speaking up was just another part of her job, and whether she liked it or not, she had to do it. 

She later told me that once her colleagues began to listen to her, their projects went more smoothly and their work became easier.

The student who suffered from a monotonous tone: I had him practice telling me about fun and exciting things he did on the weekend. Things that got him excited. And we worked on him transferring that same energy into his presentations. He said it felt odd at first, but after it became natural, he really saw his ideas become accepted at work. 

Public speaking is an essential skill for success. Remind the young person in your life that this is one skill where the learning shouldn’t stop just because the diploma is at hand.