I’ll never forget coaching Angela Page back in July 2017. She was preparing to give a 15- minute, high stakes board presentation. Her coaching package included a draft of her speech, two revisions and four 90-minute coaching sessions. That’s correct . . . four sessions for a 15- minute presentation. What you don’t know is… read more
How to Master Your Fear of Impromptu Speaking Once and for All
In the biking community, there is an old saying: there are two types of riders ― those who have fallen and those who will fall. Similarly, in the realm of public speaking, there are two types of speakers ― those who have given an impromptu talk and those who will. Whether you’re the former or… read more
5 Reasons Why the Real Problem with Power Point Is You!
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I’m here today seeking justice on behalf of the falsely accused PowerPoint presentation. A word of caution before we begin ― this court proceeding will deviate from the traditional hearings process in which both sides present an opening statement outlining what their version of the evidence will show. In… read more
The Wrong and the Right Way to Introduce a Speaker
For many years, one of the hotly contested subjects in professional speaking circles has been determining at what point a speech “officially” starts. Some say it’s the moment you reach the parking lot of the venue. Others say it’s the second you get into your car on your way to the venue. Alternatively, the… read more
See How Easily You Can Learn Your Way Around a Microphone
Would you believe that we developed most of our bad microphone habits before the age of 10? If you’ve ever sung your favorite jam into a fork or hairbrush microphone, you’re just as guilty as the rest of us. That experience, of course, doesn’t mean we know how to use the real thing …. read more
Pause During Your Next Talk and Unlock These 5 Benefits
One thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three, one thousand four, one thousand five. What if I told you that the five seconds of silence you just counted off is twice as impactful as any words you could say in a speech? Ironically, when it comes to speaking, your most effective tool is silence…. read more
Step Up To The Podium
If you clicked on this article expecting to be mildly entertained while learning a few useful tips on how to effectively use a podium, now is a good time to stop reading. After spending the last decade immersed in all things public speaking, the one topic that continues to elude me is the podium. Now,… read more
Any Questions?
If the title of this article reminds you of the 1980’s anti-drug egg and frying pan commercial, you’re not alone. For those of you who missed it, you can check it out here. Although the commercial did a poor job of connecting with its intended target, the imagery and those last two words, “Any… read more
3 Reasons Why You Should Hit It and Quit It
If you have ever suffered through a presentation where the presenter beat a point to death, you’re going to love this one! First, let me define the idiom, “beat a point to death.” A speaker is guilty of beating a point to death if they go into unnecessarily granular detail or wonder off in several… read more
5 Proven Ways to Cram for Your Next Speech
If you’re anything like most busy executives, you are accustomed to operating under tight time constraints. In fact, your ability to juggle multiple priorities at the same time is probably an attribute you wear like a badge of honor. But what happens when a high-stakes presentation gets thrown into the mix? On top of everything… read more