Take a look at successful communicators and you’ll notice that, most of them have “communication savvy” and find it easy to sell themselves, their ideas, their strategies and their dreams.

Which one of these statements would you want your manager to say about you?

1. He is an excellent researcher, but lacks the “communication savvy” needed to sell his ideas.

2. He is an expert in his field and a very “savvy communicator” who can sell his ideas.

When it comes to communicating successfully, there are many basics to consider… the over-all message, spontaneous thinking, your words, the person or persons you are speaking with, the time and place of your meeting, your physical presentation, etc.

But there is one FOUNDATIONAL skill at play in all communication – if ignored and not taken seriously to heart – it can undermine your entire message and leave everyone frustrated. Although not difficult to learn, this skill is one that you most likely have not recognized as being absolutely critical for consistent communication success.

A good start in learning to develop "communication savvy" is to take a speaking voice coaching program while you are young. Unfortunately, it is not taught in most schools. However, it is a valuable learning experience and will serve you well throughout your life both personally and professionally.