August 11, 2010
As internal audit professionals, we are often recognized for many outstanding characteristics and skills that we bring to bear in executing our important role. We are lauded for independent organizational structures, personal objectivity, risk management and business acumen, and analytical skills. However, there is one attribute for which we are rarely praised: our ability to communicate effectively.
As with most professional characteristics, the gap in an ability to communicate effectively often starts at the top — in our case with chief audit executives (CAEs). I recently delivered a presentation on the attributes of highly successful CAEs in which I identified “dynamic communication skills” as one of the seven attributes.…