Are you speaking at a conference soon? Fantastic! You are going to do great. Why? Because you invest seriously in preparation to reap real rewards. Yes, practicing can feel artificial and awkward. Especially practicing in front of other people. … [Read more...] about Practice builds comfort, confidence, and magic
Is ‘too prepared’ even a thing?
[Editor's note: This post originally appeared in 2016.] All of your great work to become a great communicator comes to naught if you don’t invest seriously in preparation. So many people underestimate how much preparation a great speech takes. … [Read more...] about Is ‘too prepared’ even a thing?
Create a crescendo
[Editor's note: The following is an updated version of a post originally published in 2017.] What does everyone sitting in an auditorium long for (and so rarely receive) in a keynote address? A provocative idea, a great new tool, a penetrating … [Read more...] about Create a crescendo
Do your homework
It’s September. It’s time to get that new lunchbox and think about what your new teacher will be like. It’s time to knuckle down and get ready to work on new skills. Just in time for conference season! There are so many tech industry conferences … [Read more...] about Do your homework
What you believe impacts how you communicate
Here in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, there are two kinds of people: those who think HBO’s Silicon Valley is the most hilarious thing on television ever, and those who can’t stand it because it’s too painfully true to life. I’m in the most … [Read more...] about What you believe impacts how you communicate
How you feel about yourself impacts how you communicate
My Dad always used to say, “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.” My Dad (and Henry Ford, who coined the phrase) were right. It drove me crazy when he said this, because I knew he was right. I’d go off in a huff to tackle whatever … [Read more...] about How you feel about yourself impacts how you communicate
Your lizard brain and stage fright
Your amygdala, that almond-sized tyrant in your brain, does serve some great functions, but it’s hell on keynote preparation! To my knowledge no tiger has every charged the stage and eaten anyone giving a speech, but your amygdala acts like the … [Read more...] about Your lizard brain and stage fright
Beware cognitive overload!
Communicating a complex idea to a new audience is always a challenge. TED Curator Chris Anderson’s advice in TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking is extremely helpful. Let’s dive in to what he says. When you want your audience to … [Read more...] about Beware cognitive overload!
We’re humans, not demographics
TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking has so much to offer it’s worth a whole month of poseyblog’s time. Today we’re talking about people. When you give a talk, you are a person. Talking to people! Focus on your humanness and your … [Read more...] about We’re humans, not demographics
You are not a game show host
poseyblog is all about TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking this month. This book is the essential evangelist’s field guide – full of detailed, useful advice for speakers. This week let’s look at who and how to be on stage. “The … [Read more...] about You are not a game show host
