1. Introduction

The primary objective of this term paper is to study the keys for effective presenting and listening which are two crucial skills a manager must sharpen. Along with this, it identifies the relevance and importance of these two skills for my profession and develops an action plan to improve these twin skills within myself.

This assignment is prepared as a requirement of the course Business Communication (MBA 503), Master of Business Administration 2013 program of Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM), University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

2. Manager’s Skills and Role within an Organization

Managing an organization has four main aspects which are namely planning, organizing, leading and controlling. Each manager has to learn and keep their work in accordance with the main aspects. To manage the organization a manager must have three main skill areas as follows;
• Conceptual skills
• Human skills
• Technical skills
The skill level differs depending on the level of hierarchy that manager is positioned. As the manager moves up on the hierarchy, conceptual skills get prominent and at the lower levels of the hierarchy, technical skills get prominent. Human skills remain the same at each hierarchical level revealing that it is equally important to all levels of managers. Effective presenting and listening are two skills that come under human skills and are key skills that all managers every level must sharpen.

3. Effective Presenting

It is a requirement for every manager to present during their day to day work. They may present to higher management, subordinates or customers. No matter where they present the argument must be understood by the audience and required message must be delivered uncluttered. Presentation is one of the most common way of proceeding in the business environment. Presentation seeks to persuade and