If we focus too much on ourselves in our presentations, we run the risk of losing our audience and failing to get our message across – even if our content and delivery is strong. I share some insights on this from my friend and fellow presentation expert, Darren LaCroix. How many times have you been […]
Read More...Public Speaking – The One Secret to Delivering A Successful Speech
A few months ago, I received an email: “I am a great fan of yours. Could I interview you for my blog?” I was busy, and my first instinct was to reply, “Please contact me again in three months.” However, before I hit “send” I thought twice and decided to click on the link to […]
Read More...Sri Lankan Wins Toastmasters’ 2014 World Championship of Public Speaking
Congratulations to Dananjaya Hettiarachchi, the 2014 Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking! On August 23rd, Hettiarachchi, a human resource development (HRD) specialist from Colombo, Sri Lanka, won the world’s largest speech contest, the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking, with a humorous speech titled, “I See Something.” Below is a clip from his speech. Along […]
Read More...Practice Does Not Make Perfect – Are You Reinforcing Bad Habits?
Are you practicing to improve? Or are you inadvertently reinforcing bad habits? Sure, the old adage says that practice makes perfect. But in fact, practice makes permanent. Practice can help you become a better speaker, but it can also make you more comfortable with your public speaking mistakes – unconscious language or gestures that detract […]
Read More...What Do Public Speaking And Ballet Have in Common?
I recently heard from my friend Carol Andrew, a fellow Dorset girl – from the same small region of England as I am! Not only do we both live in the United States now, but we are also both National Speakers Association members, both speakers, and both speech coaches. Unlike me, Carol studied at London’s […]
Read More...How to Maximize Your Webinar Success
I was recently featured in an article called, “How to Give a Killer Webinar: Tips from the Pros,” by Michael Ventimiglia, who asked a dozen marketing, presentation, and webinar experts, “What are your best tips for giving a webinar?” I share a few of the very useful strategies Michael gathered from the pros: Before Your […]
Read More...Two Ways to Connect with Your Audience – FrippVT Video
To become an effective speaker, you must learn how to connect with your audience both intellectually and emotionally. I share this brief video sample from FrippVT to help you learn more about connecting with your audience:
Read More...Public Speaking – Why Rehearse?
If you want to deliver a successful presentation, you will spend a lot more time preparing for your presentation than you will speaking. Even highly experienced speakers must devote time to preparation, including rehearsal. My friend and colleague, Rob Biesenbach names inadequate rehearsal as one of the “11 Deadly Presentation Sins.” In his recent book […]
Read More...Preparation Is Crucial in Crisis Communication
In the event of a crisis, your organization might be overwhelmed by the media or by the disaster itself; it could become nearly impossible to provide thoughtful responses and accurate information without a crisis communication plan already in place. In light of the recent and tragic loss of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, I share this […]
Read More...How to Close Your Presentation – Expert Presentation Advice
The first and last thirty seconds of your speech have the most impact on your audience. Last words linger. Unfortunately, there are some common mistakes you can make in closing your presentation that will actually undermine your message. Learn how to craft the closing of your presentation so that it reinforces your message. In this […]
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