When Michael Gove delivered his first public speech as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice at the Legatum Institute, he offered every aspiring speaker a valuable lesson, not in what to do, but in what to avoid. Whether you’re a CEO, a senior politician, or a project manager, giving your first[…]
Posts by:
Maurice Decastro
What Michael Gove’s First Speech Can Teach Us About What Not to Do
Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jul 04, 2015
How to Speak With Confidence: 10 Mindset Shifts Every Presenter Needs
Advice, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips Jun 28, 2015
Every presenter faces the same paradox: your greatest enemy is also your greatest ally. The need to communicate with power and impact can quickly become a defining force in your career. One day you’re quietly getting on with your work, and the next you find yourself in entirely new territory: presenting to senior leadership, motivating[…]
If you’re a nervous presenter, there’s one thing you can be certain of: you are not alone. Public speaking anxiety is like a tax notice; it reaches all of us sooner or later. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, or what you do; eventually, it shows up at your door. For[…]
How to Close a Presentation With Power, Confidence and Impact
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jun 13, 2015
Closing a presentation can feel even more challenging than opening one. We all understand the importance of making a strong first impression, but the last impression is just as critical, and far too many presenters overlook it. Some of the best presentations are weakened by a few moments of hesitation at the end. A[…]
How to Make a Powerful First Impression When You Present
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking May 17, 2015
How long do you really have before your audience forms an impression of you? Five seconds? Ten? Longer? According to researchers at Princeton University, it takes just one-tenth of a second for someone to judge us the moment they see our face. It sounds extreme, but think about the last time you met a[…]
Storytelling in business presentations has the power to transform the way we influence others. Every one of us carries stories filled with insight, emotion, and lived experience. Stories that can inspire, persuade, and connect on a level that information alone never will. In a world overflowing with noise and distraction, your audience needs more[…]
5 Body Language Tips Every Presenter Should Master
Advice, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips, Public Speaking May 01, 2015
There are countless body language tips we could offer presenters, but this article focuses on five of the simplest and most powerful. When there’s a mismatch between what we say and how we say it, the impact of our message is dramatically reduced. People won’t trust what you say if your body contradicts your words.[…]
How to Use Your Public Speaking Voice With Power and Presence
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Apr 23, 2015
You’ve done the work, you understand your audience and have crafted the conversation you want to have, know your story inside out, and you’ve pictured what success looks like. Now comes the part many presenters overlook: how you use your voice. Effective communication is both verbal and nonverbal. The words you choose matter enormously,[…]
n Think about the conversations you’ve enjoyed most in your life, the ones you remember. They were almost certainly shaped by the mood and atmosphere that greeted you before a single word was spoken. You felt comfortable, welcomed and at ease. That same principle applies to presenting. At Mindful Presenter, We Lead by Example Our[…]
How to Manage Presentation Nerves and Speak with Confidence
Anxiety, Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Apr 09, 2015
Y Would you like to learn how to manage presentation nerves? Even George Foreman, twice heavyweight boxing champion of the world, once said, “I was a tiger, a good fighter, in good shape, but I was always nervous before boxing matches”, and he didn’t even have to speak. If a world champion can feel nervous[…]
Why Rehearsal Is the Secret Advantage of Every Great Presenter
Advice, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips, Public Speaking Apr 02, 2015
Most people think rehearsal is about memorising lines. It isn’t. Rehearsal is about preparing yourself to be fully present, calm, confident, and ready to adapt the moment you stand up to speak. It’s the quiet work that separates the presenters who merely get through their material from the ones who bring it to life.[…]
Most presenters start preparing by opening their laptops. They begin typing, tweaking, rearranging, and polishing. The presenters who consistently deliver powerful, memorable presentations start from a very different place. They start long before creating the first slide, long before the room fills, long before they stand up to speak. They begin by envisioning. Seeing Success[…]
Why the Best Presentations Are Built on Stories
Advice, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking, Storytelling Mar 13, 2015
Turning a presentation into a meaningful story is one of the greatest challenges any presenter faces. Yet it’s also the most important. A story is how human beings make sense of the world. It’s how we learn, remember, and connect. Long before we had slides, charts, or meeting rooms, we had stories, and they remain[…]
Most presentations die before they even begin. Not because the content is weak or the speaker lacks confidence, but because the presenter starts in the wrong place. They open a laptop, summon a familiar template, and begin arranging boxes on a slide. It feels productive, even responsible. but it’s the fastest way to drain[…]
In today’s fast-paced corporate environment, presenting can be a daunting task. If you’ve ever found yourself standing before an audience, you know that making a strong first impression is crucial. The Importance of First Impressions Research from Princeton and the University of Glasgow suggests that we form judgments about strangers in just half a[…]
Effective Presentation Planning: Key Strategies for Success
Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Mar 01, 2015
Is presenting at work a source of anxiety for you? In today’s fast-paced corporate environment, many business meetings can be complex and demanding. When asked to speak, the first instinct for many is to fire up their laptops, only to fill slides with every piece of information they know on the subject. We call that[…]
12 Essential Traits of Great Presenters
Advice, Presentating training, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips Feb 26, 2015
Is great presenting a skill you aspire to develop? History has shown us that all great speakers share common elements that contribute to their success. Here are 12 key traits that effective presenters possess. 1. They Don’t Say Good Morning Can you imagine Martin Luther King starting his speech with, “Good morning, I have a[…]
10 Essential Tips for Successful Work Presentations
Presentation Skills, Public Speaking, Storytelling Feb 20, 2015
If presenting at work causes you anxiety, know that you are not alone. For some, the anticipation of a presentation is akin to the nervousness felt before calling a service provider about a technical issue. The mere thought can be daunting. However, understanding what truly matters in a presentation can make all the difference. Here[…]
5 Key Agreements for More Effective Business Meetings
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips Feb 19, 2015
In today’s fast-paced corporate environment, many business meetings serve as complex and demanding decision-making forums. If you spend time in business meetings, you’ve likely noticed a paradox: you must prepare exhaustively for every conceivable outcome while also being ready to improvise in the moment. Understanding Meeting Dynamics You may have experienced three very different types[…]
12 Tactics for handling challenging public speaking situations
Advice, Presentation Tips, Public Speaking Feb 13, 2015
Have you ever found yourself in a challenging public speaking situation? Many experienced presenters have faced tough audiences and learned valuable lessons along the way. You might consider your audience tough because: – They have more expertise on the topic. – There are dissenters in the room. – An uncomfortable emotional charge exists. – You[…]
The Presenter’s Guide to Storytelling That Sticks
Presentation Skills, Public Speaking, Storytelling Feb 08, 2015
Every great presentation hinges on storytelling. As a presenter, harnessing the art of storytelling can significantly elevate your ability to connect with your audience. The Value of Storytelling Throughout history, humans have shared stories to make sense of the world and our place in it. Well-told stories have the power to persuade, evoke emotions,[…]
What It Really Takes to Win Over a Tough Audience
Advice, Presentating training, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips Feb 05, 2015
Have you ever had to manage a tough audience during a business presentation? You might have viewed them as challenging because: – They have more experience than you on the topic. – There are dissenters in the room. – A negative emotional charge hangs in the atmosphere. – You may face difficult or even hostile[…]
When it comes to public speaking, few can measure up to Barack Obama. Whether you agree with his politics or not, he is recognised as a masterful communicator. His ability to inspire and connect with audiences is unparalleled, and his recent State of the Union Address further exemplifies this skill. The Importance of Connection As[…]
Public Speaking Inspiration from Iconic Movie Speeches
Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jan 22, 2015
To create a compelling presentation, it’s invaluable to take inspiration from iconic movie speeches in Hollywood films. Effective public speakers can learn a great deal from these memorable moments. The Importance of Connection Whether you’re dealing with dreary headlines like “Nine People Wounded in Tel Aviv” or “IS Demands $200m Ransom for Japan Hostages,” it’s[…]
Unlocking the Power of Storytelling in Presentations
Advice, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips, Public Speaking, Storytelling Jan 11, 2015
Every great presentation revolves around storytelling. When you share a narrative, you create an emotional connection that captivates your audience’s attention and helps convey your message effectively. The Value of Storytelling Take, for example, the story of your own experiences or those of others, as it can significantly enhance your presentations. Here’s a[…]
We are already rapidly approaching the end of the first week of 2015 and I wonder just how many of those New Year resolutions have been broken already. Research by the University of Scranton, Journal of Clinical Psychology suggests that last year the top 10 resolutions made were: 1. Lose weight 2. Getting organised 3. Spend less,[…]
Mindful presenting involves the skill of directing your attention toward your audience and your objectives, free from distraction by intrusive thoughts or external events. It’s about harnessing the mind’s potential to achieve peak performance in your presentations. Every presentation is essentially a performance. This doesn’t imply it’s merely an act; rather, it means delivering[…]
Understanding Your Audience: The 6 Human Needs in Presentations
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Dec 31, 2014
As a presenter, it’s essential to recognize that your audience has specific needs. To create a meaningful connection, you should understand and address these six fundamental human needs. The Framework of Human Needs In 1943, Abraham Maslow introduced a theory that outlines essential human needs: Physiological: What we need for survival. Safety: The need to[…]
7 Mistakes to Avoid for a Happy Audience
Advice, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips, Public Speaking Dec 14, 2014
If you want a happy audience, it’s vital to avoid key mistakes that many presenters make. Your audience wants your help and seeks comfort in your presence so they can relax in return. 1. Lack of Preparation “Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.” Confucius It’s clear[…]
Discover Your Public Speaking Style: Types and Insights
Advice, Presentating training, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Dec 08, 2014
What type of public speaker or presenter are you really? Do you know? Understanding your public speaking style requires insight into your personality, thought processes, beliefs, strengths, weaknesses, and emotional triggers. A skilled public speaker possesses a keen awareness of what makes others tick as well. The Challenge of Self-Discovery There are many different styles[…]
