The Quantified Communications blog.

In honor of President Obama's birthday this week, the QC team took a look back at his communication throughout his political career.

Traditionally, corporations flock to universities several times per year for career fairs, where they collect resumes, hold screening interviews, and set up next steps with interested, qualified candidates. But over the past several years, the number of organizations willing and able to dedicate the time, resources, and personnel to these events has dwindled. Instead, companies like Goldman Sachs are turning to video interview platforms like HireVue and VidCruiter to recruit and screen new candidates. As of 2013, research had found that 63 percent of companies often used video to conduct employment interviews, and that number has only grown.

You hear us talk a lot about communication scores — content, delivery skills, audience perception, the QC Score, and dozens of others. But what do those scores mean, exactly?

At Quantified Communications, we use data analytics to help professionals understand and improve the impact their communication has on customers, employees, and investors. We’ve worked with leadership and communications teams at leading global organizations, but we’ve also spent time working with aspiring leaders in top MBA programs.

Call us nerds, but at Quantified Communications, one of the things we love most about spring is the commencement addresses. Every year, we get to enjoy a series of talks from some of the country’s best-known corporate, cultural, and political leaders in an environment free from the pressure to sway investors, persuade voters, or move the bottom line.

Two Commencement Speeches, 48 Years Apart

We talk about charisma a lot, particularly when we’re talking about leadership. It’s a quality we should aspire to as speakers, to help us inspire our audiences and gain support in our most important initiatives.

When you’re preparing for a presentation, whether it’s a quarterly earnings call, an internal announcement, or a college commencement speech, you’re focused on coming across as the utmost authority on your topic. You want to look and sound in control, assuring your audience that you know what you’re talking about and have the experience, power, and knowledge to back up your message or follow through on your promises.

Last year, we set out to identify the communication traits our most renowned visionary leaders use to win the support of their communities and turn their loftiest ideas into realities.

Research has found the overwhelming majority of executives and learning and development professionals, not to mention employees, value ongoing professional development. And topping the list of priorities? Communication. Up to 80 percent of professional activity is grounded in communication, and those skills drive success across every department and initiative.