This Week’s Tip: Use Parallel Structure Parallel Structure is a term most often associated with writing, and it’s a powerful tool for a presenter who wants to land a powerful message. We see it in famous speeches from world leaders. It’s embedded in the Declaration of Independence. And it’s a way that any speaker can more effectively land their points. When you use parallel structure in a talk:…
[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5103897/height/0/width/0/theme/standard/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/” height=”” width=””] This Week’s Tip: No Eye Charts Eye charts are presentation slides will small text, lots of numbers, and/or detailed charts. They might look okay on the presenter’s desk, but to the audience, they are illegible. A presenter will often apologize for the eye chart and simple state the point they want to make. The better option is not to use illegible slides at all. If…
[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5083662/height/0/width/0/theme/standard/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/” height=”” width=””] This Week’s Tip: Avoid the G-Word Many speakers have picked up the bad habit of referring to a mixed-gender audience as, “You guys…” Don’t do it. There’s not benefit to it. You risk alienating a significant part of your audience, and you get nothing in return. Using the G-Word can only make you less effective as a speaker. Post Tip Discussion: Fill Your Bag It’s important…
[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5062047/height/0/width/0/theme/standard/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/” height=”” width=””] This Week’s Tip: Empty Your Pockets We often fill our pockets with gadgets and wallets and keys and lint. Before speaking, take all that stuff out of your pockets, and stash it in your bag, desk, best friend’s pockets or someplace else. Speaking with full pockets simply invites distractions that you don’t need. Post Tip Discussion: Prepare and Prewire Your Audience Communication is the process by…
[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5036430/height/0/width/0/theme/standard/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/” height=”” width=””] This Week’s Tip: Manage your Beam If you conduct a PowerPoint slide show through a data projector, you are likely shining a beam at a screen or wall. You need to be conscious of that beam while you speak so you don’t block it, stare into it, or distract your audience. It’s also important to make sure nothing unintentionally casts a shadow on the screen. You can use…
This Week’s Tip: Arrive the day before the event If a speaking engagement is important enough to travel for, it’s important enough to arrive the day before. There are always unexpected challenges that can arise when you have an event planned, and throwing in air travel only multiples them. When you fly in the day before you give yourself the options and flexibility you need to deal with unforeseen circumstances….
[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/4943689/height/0/width/0/theme/standard/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/” height=”” width=””] This Week’s Tip: Use the Cursor Keys When you are in slide show mode, you can navigate a PowerPoint slide deck by using the cursor keys. This makes it easier to navigate back and forth through your slides while speaking to a group. Post Tip Discussion We start by talking about the nature of PowerPoint. Many folks have learned to fear “Death by…
This Week’s Tip: Don’t Open with a Joke Humor is tough, especially in business. Jokes need to relevant, non-offensive, and funny. If you’re a nervous speakers, trying to open with a joke just makes things more challenging than they need to be. Post Tip Discussion We have an interview with Jon Clarke. Jon is a freelance writing director and copywriter with nearly 20 years of…
[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/4943567/height/0/width/0/theme/standard/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/” height=”” width=””] This Week’s Tip: Use a Timer Most presentations have a time limit, and exceeding that time limit is rude and ineffective. Finishing to soon can present other risks. While speaking or presenting, though, our internal clock is unreliable. Use a timer of some sort. Post Tip Discussion Preparation is the key to success in conducting a presentation. There are a lot of models…
[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/4943230/height/0/width/0/theme/standard/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/” height=”” width=””] This week’s tip: Hydrate The common wisdom we encounter on the web, from well-meaning relatives, from health fans, etc., is that we should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Or maybe not. It’s become surprisingly controversial. Presenters should probably drink more. It’s easy to become dehydrated while speaking, especially, if you’ll be speaking for a while. Speaking and projecting means exhaling more moisture…