Every story has a “Once Upon a Time.” The place where the intricate weave of values, experiences, and influences begins to shape the fabric of our lives. As a speech coach, I guide my clients to revisit their own “Once Upon a Time”, unraveling the threads of their past to better understand the tapestry of […]
Read More...Want to Know a Much Overlooked Way to Connect with Your Audience Before You Speak?
Imagine this scenario: You’re about to step on stage as the speaker. The energy in the room is buzzing with anticipation. As you prepare to captivate your audience with your words, there’s a valuable strategy I recommend you embrace before that moment. Whenever possible, act as your own warm-up act. This is an often overlooked […]
Read More...How Often Have You Hear Imitation is The Sincerest Form of Flattery?
No, it is NOT! How often have you heard, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” and believe it or questioned it? This is only the first part of a quote from Oscar Wilde. It’s absolutely clear what Oscar Wilde meant (so many forget the second half of the quote) when he wrote “Imitation is […]
Read More...Do You Want to Know What You Maybe Overlooking in Your Sales Process?
Rehearsal Is the Work in Sales Presentations Oscar winner Sir Michael Caine said, “Rehearsal is the work; performance is the relaxation.” That applies equally to delivering a sales presentation. When delivering a recent sales presentation skills training Dan, the national sales manager, told me, “It takes us a year to have the opportunity to deliver […]
Read More...Want to Know a Terrific Technique That Transforms Speaking and Writing?
As a speech coach, I introduce my clients to the importance of using parallel structure in speaking and writing. Parallel structure, also known as parallelism, is the repetition of a grammatical structure within a sentence or multiple sentences. This technique can make your speech or writing more memorable and easier to understand. When you write […]
Read More...Techniques Behind Memorable Stories
Techniques Behind Memorable Stories Many presenters make the mistake of thinking that a story must be dramatic and life-changing to be memorable. In reality, we can garner meaning from simple, everyday-life stories, and that makes them relatable. Then-Now-How Formula This is where I was; this is where I am now; this is how I got […]
Read More...How Do You Accept an Award? Be Prepared for When It Happens
Be Gracious; Be Modest; Be Prepared! Tips on How to Give an Acceptance Speech
Read More...Want to Know the Secret of Powerful Presentations?
Emotional Connection To win over your audience, you must connect emotionally. With well-chosen words, you can open your presentation and establish an immediate emotional bond. s a presentation skills coach, when I work with a group, I’ll invite individuals to come to the front and deliver their opening lines. On one occasion, up walked Stephen. […]
Read More...How You Can Write a Meaningful Eulogy That Informs and Honors
A eulogy is a speech given at a memorial service in memory of a person who has died. The purpose is to recall the defining qualities and highlights of a life lived in a way that benefits the audience, particularly the family. It should capture the essence of the life lived. That means it can […]
Read More...The Perfect Way You Can Begin Your Panel Discussion: A Specific Example
One January, Mark, a district sales manager from a biotech company, was preparing to moderate a panel at the Las Vegas National Sales Meeting. He was nervous about his new role in front of a 100-person audience. In our pre-coaching communications, I noticed his email signature line included a quote about “moving fast.” He explained […]
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