What’s the worst thing you can do in a presentation? Read your slides. Guy Kawasaki is hilarious on this topic. This is what he says your audience is thinking, “This bozo is reading his slides. I can read silently to myself faster than this bozo … [Read more...] about “This bozo is reading his slides”
Are they listening to your keynote? Kinda.
In the tech industry, being on the keynote stage is a critical rite of passage – whether you’re presenting at a big industry conference or your own company’s annual user conference. (A TED talk is another animal. Different audience, different … [Read more...] about Are they listening to your keynote? Kinda.
Find your crescendo
In last week’s post we talked about the danger of artificially choreographed presentation technique. Your audience hopes to connect to and learn from the real you. You hope you’ll convert them to your big idea when you’re on stage. What we’re after … [Read more...] about Find your crescendo
Too much technique?
Lots of presentation coaches focus on things like assertive hand gestures, frequency of eye contact, commanding tone of voice, etc., as if learning a choreographed routine will make you a brilliant communicator. How much you do or don’t extend … [Read more...] about Too much technique?
Say it better!
The most important part of being a great communicator is your message. So shouldn’t that be where most of your energy goes when you’re planning to communicate? Whether it’s for a huge keynote or a senior staff meeting, spend the lion’s share of your … [Read more...] about Say it better!
Learning from a master presenter
Nancy Duarte is one of the great experts on creating and delivering persuasive presentations. Her HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations is essential reading whether you’re preparing a TED talk or a quarterly update presentation for your boss. She … [Read more...] about Learning from a master presenter
Practice = confidence = fluency
Why is it worth actually practicing your communications skills? Why is it worth investing energy to learn techniques, to sharpen your messages, to spend time on the stage before the speech? If you aren’t prepared you can appear pre-occupied and … [Read more...] about Practice = confidence = fluency
Six Mistakes Lackadaisical Communicators Make
I spend my professional life helping people become master communicators. Usually I focus on what they’re doing right rather than what they’re doing wrong. But there’s still a place for pointing out mistakes to avoid! Therefore, behold, the Six … [Read more...] about Six Mistakes Lackadaisical Communicators Make
It’s not possible to be too prepared
There are six things every great communicator does – and this last one, the sixth, may seem prosaic, but you ignore it at your peril! All of your great work comes to naught if you don’t invest seriously in preparation. So many people … [Read more...] about It’s not possible to be too prepared
Deploy your body to teach your mind!
There’s so much to say about the fifth of the six things every great communicator does: remembering to work with and be centered in your body. Speaking can be incredibly scary. You must honor your body’s fear and proactively deal with it. Wendy … [Read more...] about Deploy your body to teach your mind!
