Great communicators are remembered and repeated. To make your message more memorable, pay close attention to how you order your words and phrases, even within a single sentence. Thoughtful choices in word order, give you the opportunity to highlight your most significant information and deliver this as “impact phrases.” Audiences engage when we present information […]
Read More...How to Shorten Your Presentation without Losing Impact
Imagine, you’ve done all the work to prepare and rehearse a major presentation and at the last minute you’re told, “I’m so sorry, but we’re short on time. Can you give us the five-minute version?” Is it possible to shorten a presentation without losing all of your impact? Yes. Don’t panic. After all, a sound […]
Read More...How to Make Your Presentation “Stick” – Tell Authentic Stories
How often have you heard a great presentation where you left energized and enthusiastic, only to get sidewalk amnesia? You forget why you were inspired. By the time you hit the car, the speaker’s message – and your excitement – is lost. Have you delivered a presentation like that? An unforgettable presentation is “sticky.” It […]
Read More...For Engineers – How to Speak Effectively at Customer Conferences
When you’re an engineer presenting at a user meeting or customer conference, you are the expert on the topic you plan to deliver to your customers. Remember, your audience does not want to know everything you know; they just need to know about the subject of your presentation. You can connect with your audience, regardless […]
Read More...Criticism: How to Turn Gripes into Growth
Criticism: How to Turn Gripes into Growth Criticism, also known as feedback, can help us improve our presentation skills. No one enjoys being criticized, but if you want to succeed, you must overcome your natural instincts and actively seek out feedback, good and bad. After years as a professional speaker, I understand. Some years I […]
Read More...Are You Speaking Too Quickly? Expert Advice
Can Your Audience Understand Your Message? Not if you speak too fast. Are you speaking too quickly? It can happen unconsciously. Sometimes public speaking can trigger an adrenaline rush. You might feel charged with energy or a bit nervous. If you’re speaking too quickly, you are likely to lose your audience. You jeopardize the overall […]
Read More...How to Make Your Presentation Pithy and Powerful
Subtle changes will make a tremendous difference Both in your public speaking and writing. Here are a few of my inside secrets on editing to ensure that your presentation is a success. A “pithy” presentation is “to the point” and “forcefully expressive.” That’s powerful. The word “edit” is commonly misused as a synonym for “delete.” […]
Read More...Do Your Presentations Bore The Boardroom?
Learn the Right Way to Prepare a Presentation When you open your mouth at every stage of your career, you sell yourself, your ideas, your value, and your ability. Fortunately, even if you’re not a born communicator, the ability to deliver a powerful presentation can be learned. I share this story about one intelligent and […]
Read More...How to Ensure That Your Audience Is Interested
Q: What is the secret of delivering a good presentation? A: The audience is interested. Q: How do I know that they will be? A: If it is interesting, entertaining, and your audience can see themselves in your presentations… your audience will be interested. Therefore, ask yourself these three questions: Who is my audience? What […]
Read More...Want to Know the Secret to Sell Yourself and Your Ideas to Senior Management?
As a Presentation Skills Expert, I’m often asked, “Patricia, how do I report to my senior management without being nervous?” The secret is to be prepared, clear, concise, and to act confident. Now, how do you appear confident when you’re nervous? First, prepare. Script out exactly what you are going to say, at least the […]
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