The silent dealbreaker

Why soft skills matter more than you think

I had been eagerly anticipating this conference. My husband and I rushed there straight after work, excited to arrive on time and reconnect with people we hadn’t seen in ages.

The event began with the usual welcoming remarks, followed by the much-anticipated guest speaker. He seemed highly regarded—competent, even. But as he clicked his remote and the first slide appeared, something immediately felt off.

The visuals were a disaster. Poorly aligned slides, low-resolution images, clashing colors—no effort had been made to create an engaging experience. It lacked respect for the audience’s eyes. I tried to stay focused, but the following slides only made it worse: misaligned headings, inconsistent formatting, endless bullet points, pixelated cartoons straight out of the early 2000s. I shut my eyes, hoping to concentrate on the speaker instead. That didn’t help either. His delivery was monotone, his message drenched in negativity. My energy drained by the second.

From the back row, I glanced around. Most of the audience had their heads down, scrolling through their phones, quietly waiting it out. My husband, ever the voice of reason, slipped out to the lobby. Fifteen minutes later, I followed to see if he was still there. Many others had done the same—choosing the lobby over the lecture, patiently waiting to go back to listen to the next speaker. But for my husband and me, exhaustion won. We left.

I stayed longer than my husband for two reasons: curiosity and empathy. I’ve been there—more times than I care to admit. I’ve given poor presentations in the past. Over time, I improved, but looking back, I realize I could have spared my audience a lot if I had received charisma and didactic training earlier on. At least, I excelled in creating compelling presentation materials, as I’ve always had a knack for aesthetics.

Looking back, I now see what truly makes the difference: the speech itself, the support materials, and, most importantly, the speaker’s charisma. Success lies in balancing hard skills and soft skills. According to Deloitte, soft skills will account for two-thirds of all jobs by 2030, while hard skills are evolving so rapidly that companies will struggle to keep up.

So, what if your next presentation is make-or-break? What if your job interview is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? What if you only have one shot to get it right?

Helping professionals master this balance—so their message resonates, their presence captivates, and their impact lasts—is more than my mission. I write speeches that engage, craft visuals that captivate, and teach charisma that leaves a lasting impact.

It’s what I do, and it’s what I love.

Because in the end, it’s not just what you say—it’s how you make people feel.