How much thought do you give to how the emcee at an event brings you on stage?
Many speakers give this as little thought as possible because they’re focused on their content and what will happen after they’re on stage. But the introduction the emcee uses to introduce you to the audience is when your speech truly begins.
Read MoreHow often have you had to give a speech, but did little to no practice ahead of time? I don’t mean impromptu speeches; I’m talking about getting lots of notice about the speech but choosing to avoid practice altogether. It’s an easy step to want to skip. After all, practice isn’t glamorous…
Read MoreDoes the thought of giving a speech make you feel a little queasy? Do your hands still get sweaty? Does your heart start pounding before you go on stage? Does your brain play a sizzle reel of all the things that could possibly go wrong (everyone hates it, people boo, you fall off the stage, get pelted with rotten tomatoes, etc.) beforehand? Here’s a secret: me too. And I’ve been doing this a long time.
Read MoreLast night I watched Ron Chapman deliver a wonderful speech about what we can learn from dog shows. Yes, dog shows. His point was that in a dog show we are not comparing a pug to a labrador, rather, we are judging whether that pug is the best version of himself compared to whether the labrador is the best version of herself. The point he made was that each of us is the best possible version of ourselves, therefore it’s foolish to try and be someone else.
Read MoreA quick scroll through my LinkedIn feed shows endless blog posts about how important it is to become a masterful storyteller, and a few solid tips on how to get there. Learning how to craft a well-thought-out narrative can help you explain difficult concepts, create emotional connection with the audience, and elevate your presentation from just informative to actually entertaining.
Read MoreThe number one way to connect with your audience has less to do with eye contact, making them laugh (though this is helpful), or how energetic you are, and has a lot more to do with feelings. True connection is developed when the audience feels you are adding value to their lives.
Read MoreBrace yourselves, because I’m about to get real: I think motivational speeches are a scourge on the world of public speaking. And no, I’m not some pessimistic humbug misanthrope. I’m actually an optimist who firmly believes in the power of personal development and growth!
Read MoreOne of the best scenes from an otherwise mediocre movie was when Will Farrell’s character in “Talladega Nights” couldn’t figure out what to do with his hands while he was speaking in front of a large crowd. While he spoke, his arms slowly kept rising next to him, as if possessed by their own will.
Read MoreOne day the Sun and Wind got into an argument over who was stronger. The Wind spotted a man walking down the road, wearing a jacket. They decided that whoever could get the jacket off the man must surely be the strongest.
Read MoreMost speakers, with enough practice, can overcome the common pitfalls of a bad presentation: using too many “ums” and “ahs,” using too many notes, not moving around the stage, figuring out what to do with your arms, etc. But even the most experienced speakers struggle with something that keeps their presenting from being truly great: authenticity.
Read MoreOne of the most respected speakers and coaches I've ever worked with it put it like this: "Music is what happens in the space between the notes." As in, without the pause it's just white noise, not harmony. Presenting is the same way.
Read MoreMany presenters have ample reason to record their presentations. It can be for the simple reason of watching to improve speaking skills, all the way to creating content for websites and marketing materials. But very few of us have the know-how to really use the camera in such a way that we look great.
Read MoreAs I described the assignment I could see the look of horror and dread cross even the most optimistic students’ faces. Despite years of indoctrination about how marvelous teamwork is (there’s no “I” in team, guys), group work inevitably brings out the worst in us. And often we don’t know it until we’re standing in front of an audience, giving a truly terrible presentation.
Read MoreIn only 15 minutes she would need to both educate the audience about the problematic nature of the current American bail system, as well as detail her solution and why we should support it. Steinberg had to manage what every speaker navigates while planning a presentation: How much information does your audience need in order for them to understand what you’re speaking about?
Read MoreA friend of mine recently worked with a new speaker coach to get her ready for a big work presentation in front of a room of over 500 people. She was disappointed after the first session because she didn’t feel like she’d gotten what she needed. She noticed her coach struggled to translate his skills as a wonderful speaker into helping her with her presentation. “He didn’t seem to understand I was giving a corporate presentation, not a motivational speech.” She lamented. “And he’s such a great speaker, so I thought he’d be a great coach!”
Read MorePop quiz: What’s the best way to lose your place during your presentation?
Answer: Look down at your notes.
Read MoreOne of the top goals for many professionals, across all industries, is being invited to deliver a TED/TEDx Talk. The TED brand has become synonymous with high-quality, engaging, and unique presentations about the research, ideas, and programs that are shaping our world.
Read MoreOnce upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, on a dark and stormy night, people used to sit around the fire at night and tell each other stories. In fact, we were storytellers long before we had even developed a written language; stories connected us, taught valuable lessons, and created a shared history.
Read MoreIn 1995 I took my very first speech class (in high school), because I needed an elective. The truth is, I was dreading it! I’m a hardcore introvert and my preferred natural state is at home and not talking to anyone, much less an audience. But that class changed my life forever, and it showed me public speaking isn’t just something introverts can learn to do
Read MoreI was recently speaking to a friend who has had to give various types of speeches throughout the past year, to various audience sizes, and he was stumped about how to maintain eye-contact with the audience in a meaningful, effective manner. He was especially curious about an old tip he learned (which involves choosing one or two people in the audience to focus on throughout the speech), but he was having trouble implementing it in a natural way.
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