I’m frequently asked, “What mistakes do most speakers make?” One mistake is thinking that because you are a seasoned speaker, you can wing it. I am not saying your presentation won’t be good, but how do you know if your timing is right if you aren’t prepared? How do you know if your points are […]
Read More...Don’t Waste Words and an Amazing Opportunity When You Open Your Presentation
When you open your presentation, you have just thirty seconds to command your audience’s attention. Don’t waste your opening words. Prepare a winning opening and give it extra attention as you rehearse your presentation. A relevant and compelling quote is one way to open a presentation and engage your audience. General Eisenhower said, “Leadership is […]
Read More...Don’t Make This Mistake and Be Confused. The Written and Spoken Word?
The National Speakers Associations’ first president Bill Gove told me, “Fripp, the written word is for the eye. The spoken word is for the rhythm.” Understanding the difference between the written word and the spoken word was just one sign of Bill’s brilliance as a speaker. Imagine you are having a conversation with a friend, […]
Read More...What Does it Take to Make Your Presentation Introductions Exciting?
The purpose of a speaker’s introduction is to establish their credentials, to create interest from the audience, and often to sell the importance of the subject to that audience at that time. Recently at a client’s conference, one of my roles and responsibilities was to introduce other speakers, all of whom I had recommended. A […]
Read More...The Best Way You Can Introduce A Speaker With A Dramatic Life Story
I introduced my long-time friend, Nacole Schapiro before her speech to the Golden Gate Breakfast Club. Although she is a professional keynote speaker who often presents on negotiation and change, I knew our group would love to hear her personal story about growing up under communism. Her family lived in fear that they would be shot if […]
Read More...How Do You Take an Opportunity to Speak and Maximize the Impact?
There is nothing more exciting for an executive speech coach than to help craft the words of a well-intentioned leader who has an exciting message to deliver and is committed to the collaborative process. Finding Opportunity in Adversity – A Timely Message Delivered by Tabassum Zalotrawala, Chief Development Officer, Chipotle Finding Opportunity in Adversity Growing […]
Read More...Do You Waste a Valuable Opportunity When You Introduce Your Sales Team?
Are you confident your sales presentations are more consistently compelling than your competition’s? When I work with sales teams to help drive more business, we look at every communication in the sales process. What I have observed is that when several sales team members deliver formal presentations to the prospect, they miss out on a […]
Read More...The Best Way to Structure Your Presentation: The Fripp Speech Model
“Good structure gives you the confidence to be creative.” Patricia Fripp How often have you sat in an audience and been mesmerized by a speaker? Was it their compelling content? Were their stories scintillating? Were they able to reach out and grab you in such a way that you thought, “Wow, the speaker is talking […]
Read More...Success: One Frippicism at a Time – Take Every Crumb They Throw You
Opportunity does not knock once. It knocks all the time, but we do not always recognize the sound. Early in her career, TV host Joan Lunden received great advice from Barbara Walters. “Take every crumb they throw you, and handle them magnificently.” You never know which magnificent crumb is going to be your big break. […]
Read More...Success: One Frippicism at a Time – Ask and You Will Receive
The Secret of Conversation is to Ask Questions Your prospects and customers can give you important feedback, both directly and indirectly, but perhaps there is another great way to find out how you are doing. This is a blast from my past. After addressing a group of sales contest winners in Hawaii, I was on […]
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