When you’re speaking in public, your primary physical objective is to appear comfortable and confident on stage. Many coaches specializing in presentation training will give you very specific tips on how to use body language to your advantage, but the primary tip is to do whatever makes you feel Continue reading
Strategy. Innovation. Brand.
Where the mistakes are
I should have memorized that part.
I’m a pretty good public speaker. But I’ve noticed that the mistakes I make tend to come in predictable locations: near the beginning or near the end. At the beginning of a speech, I’m often keyed up and I sometimes forget things or simply start too fast. Near the end of the speech, I want to go for the big, dramatic finish. Sometimes it works; other times, it doesn’t. Between the beginning and the end, I tend to calm down, settle into a rhythm and do reasonably well. So I’ve improved my presentation skills by learning to take special precautions near the beginning and the end. Learn how in the video.
How much room is left in your brain?
Not much room in here!
We see as many as 3,000 marketing messages every day. We’re constantly bombarded with information, images, and icons. To protect ourselves, we instinctively build a set of filters. We simply don’t see some things because it’s impossible to see everything that’s
coming at us. So, how do you get a message through the filters? The first step in effective communication is to shrink the message to fit the space available. And, the fact is, there’s not a lot of space available in the average human brain. It’s filled up with trivia, to-do lists, anxieties, and wishes. It’s tough competition for your message. So, be creative but, above all, be brief. Now watch the video.
You and I and Decorum
Decorum is a key concept in Greek rhetoric. The Greeks used the term to describe the art of fitting in. The audience will find you agreeable if you meet their expectations. Continue reading
Can you live without PowerPoint?
It seems that we’re addicted to PowerPoint. Every time we have an opportunity to present, we prepare by firing up PowerPoint, reviewing old slide sets, and creating new slides. Can we break the habit? I’ve been trying to live without PowerPoint for about a year now. When I start a speaking presentation I ask, “Would it be OK if I don’t use PowerPoint today?” The audience reaction is uniformly positive and I can feel their defense mechanisms start to soften. It also makes for a more engaging, more interactive presentation. Watch the video for tips on how to do it.
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