AS technology and artificial intelligence continue to reshape the workplace, Ipswich residents are being encouraged to strengthen the distinctly human skills that could increasingly set them apart.
Toastmasters International has identified six key communication skills it believes professionals will need in 2026 and beyond, with local Toastmasters clubs already helping Ipswich residents put those skills into practice.
Ipswich Toastmasters member Cheryl Lukritz DTM said local clubs had recently been running Speechcraft Courses, providing people with an introduction to many of those skills before potentially progressing to regular club membership.
“These shorter sessions introduce many of the key workplace skills highlighted by Toastmasters, with regular club membership helping further develop and refine them,” Ms Lukritz said.
For Ipswich residents, Ms Lukritz said the benefits extended well beyond the traditional workplace presentation.
“One of the key benefits of our sessions and clubs is that they offer a friendly, safe environment where locals can practise both creating and delivering speeches, while receiving helpful and meaningful feedback on how to enhance their presentations to better engage their audiences,” she said.
Ipswich also now has a strong connection to the leadership of Toastmasters across the wider region, with local Ben McCormick serving as District Director for District 69, which encompasses Queensland, the Northern Territory and parts of the Pacific.
District 69 supports more than 140 corporate and community clubs, while internationally more than 4000 company-sponsored Toastmasters clubs operate around the world.
Nearly 300 Fortune 500 companies maintain an active Toastmasters presence, while Queensland corporate clubs include those within Cook Medical, Energex, Southern Cross Care Queensland and Urban Utilities.
Six corporate speaking skills that will remain important in 2026 and beyond.
- Clear and concise communication – Employees should be able to explain complex information without unnecessary detail of jargon.
- Leadership presence – Posture, eye contact, and vocal control.
- Audience-focused speaking – Strong speakers consider what their audience already knows and what they need.
- Impromptu communication – Professionals must be able to organise their thoughts and respond when asked an unexpected question.
- Active listening and feedback – Effective communication.
- Adaptability – Speakers need to adjust when meeting times change or new information emerges.
