How to Use a Teleprompter Without Sounding Like You’re Reading

How to Use a Teleprompter Without Sounding Like You’re Reading

When I coach executives and high-level conference speakers, one of the most misunderstood tools on stage is the teleprompter. Many of my clients speak at major conferences, where their speech is fed to a teleprompter positioned high enough that the audience barely...
When Brilliant Executives Suddenly Need Presentation Skills

When Brilliant Executives Suddenly Need Presentation Skills

I am frequently asked how I work with executives who are exceptional at what they do and have never had the time, opportunity, or need to improve their presentation skills. Until. A new position. Higher visibility. And a mandatory 45-minute presentation to senior...
Why Coming to America at 20 With $500 Seemed Like a Good Idea

Why Coming to America at 20 With $500 Seemed Like a Good Idea

January 18 is my personal anniversary. It is the day I arrived in the United States. When people ask, “Why did you come to America at age 20 with no job, no contacts, and $500?” my honest answer is, “It seemed like a good idea at the time.” And it did. At that point...
Enjoy the Results When You Maximize the Power of Well-Chosen Words

Enjoy the Results When You Maximize the Power of Well-Chosen Words

Recently, I was interviewed by my NSA colleague Shannon J. Gregg, PhD, for her Life Sciences Sales Lab podcast, and she asked a question that took me straight back to the early 1990s. “Patricia, when was the first time you coached a scientist?” That honor goes to my...
Your First Step is to Think

Your First Step is to Think

It is never too early to begin thinking about a speech. Before they meet me, many of my corporate clients believe “preparation” starts the week before the presentation. Some believe it starts the night before. Too many believe it starts when they open PowerPoint. That...