Every great presentation is fundamentally a story. At the age of 60, Diana Nyad embarked on open water training for a 60-hour, 103-mile (166 km) swim from Cuba to Florida—a challenge she had failed to complete thirty years earlier. After 29 hours in the water, strong currents pushed her off course, forcing her to abandon[…]
Posts by:
Maurice Decastro
Powerful Presentations: The Art of Storytelling
Presentation Skills, Public Speaking, Storytelling Dec 05, 2014
Speaking for Introverts: Insights from Susan Cain’s TED Talk
Advice, nervous, Presentating training Nov 26, 2014
Is it possible for a self-confessed introvert to have the courage to speak for 18 minutes on the prestigious TED stage? Susan Cain did just that, and her speech has been viewed over 14 million times. Walking onto the stage with a bag full of books, she reminded the world that introverts have extraordinary gifts[…]
Captivating Your Audience: Powerful Openings for Presentations
Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Nov 20, 2014
All presenters and public speakers face the challenge of getting and keeping their audience’s attention. Psychologists at Princeton University suggest that people form judgments about attractiveness, likability, trustworthiness, and competence after looking at someone’s face for just 100 milliseconds. No wonder many presenters feel anxious about speaking in public. The thought alone can be unnerving.[…]
As a producer, composer, music arranger, actor, singer, civil rights activist, and humanitarian, Harry Belafonte is no stranger to public speaking. Many would say he has always been outspoken, and his recent performance was in a class of its own. His speech served as a reminder that when you believe in your message and feel[…]
A tribute to my beautiful mum, Georgine DeCastro 19/03/35 – 19/10/14 ( read today 30/10/14 at her funeral) “I believe I was about 6 years old when mum and dad bought our very first dog into our home, it was only a puppy but I was terrified of it. If it even came into the[…]
Emma Watson – Presentation nerves
Anxiety, nervous, Presentating training, Presentation Skills Oct 07, 2014
Emma Watson, the heroine of the Harry Potter series was appointed as a U.N. Women Goodwill Ambassador earlier this year. She recently gave an impassioned speech on feminism and gender inequality at the U.N. headquarters in New York. When I first listened to her speech on YouTube I couldn’t help but be a little[…]
There have been many adjectives used to describe Boris Johnson: eccentric, clever, politically astute, lovable, funny, quirky, self-promoting, arrogant, charming, flamboyant, and larger than life. Some believe he excels as the Mayor of London and should lead the Conservative Party, while others might prefer he take a different path entirely. This post focuses[…]
Understanding Nigel Farage’s Unique Speaking Style
Advice, Communication Skills, Public Speaking Sep 28, 2014
Whether you like them or agree with them or not, figures like David Cameron, Nick Clegg, Ed Miliband, and Nigel Farage know how to speak in public. Some might argue they do it better than others, each possessing an individual style that shines when the pressure is on. Last week, Nigel Farage spoke at the[…]
Mastering the Pause: Lessons from Barack Obama’s Speaking Style
Advice, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Sep 26, 2014
Barack Obama is arguably one of the best speakers in the world today, and in my opinion, he is the master of the pause. We witnessed this again during his address to the United Nations General Assembly, where he outlined the steps world leaders should take against violent extremists such as the Islamic State militants.[…]
Does Ed Miliband speak with the gravitas of Obama, the grace of Clinton, or the glow of Cameron? Not quite. However, he did make the right choice by speaking without notes at this week’s Labour Conference in Manchester. From a technical perspective, Miliband demonstrated several commendable speaking skills: Great eye contact Effective pauses Appropriate pacing[…]
Beyond the Elevator Speech: Engaging Networking Strategies
Advice, Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Sep 15, 2014
I enjoy networking, although I’m not a fan of the traditional elevator speech. “Good morning, my name is John, and I’m a partner at ABC; solicitors, accountants, marketing, training, etc. We are based in Richmond and have been in business for thirty years. Not only do we provide excellent customer service, but we also offer[…]
The Real Source of Public Speaking Anxiety
Advice, Anxiety, Presentating training, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips, Public Speaking Sep 14, 2014
Public speaking anxiety is by far the greatest issue we are asked to help professionals with every week at Mindful Presenter. I often hear professional speakers and coaches claim that the reason they believe that people suffer from public speaking anxiety is because they have low self-esteem. Whilst that may be true for some, I[…]
Keynote by Tim Cook – Steve Jobs Would Be Proud
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Sep 09, 2014
Yesterday, Apple CEO Tim Cook unveiled the birth of the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 plus and the Apple Watch. His predecessor, the late Steve Jobs was long hailed as one of the best keynote speakers and presenters in the world. It could have been no easy feat to follow in the footsteps of such[…]
Alcohol and acceptance speeches just don’t mix. Not even for the charming actor who’s name incidentally I wouldn’t try saying after having had a few too many scoops myself. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that it doesn’t matter how likeable or famous you may be, being tipsy whilst giving any kind of[…]
Matt Cutts is the man behind search quality and search engine optimization in arguably the world’s most important internet company. Some may envy his position. Few however, would covet the enormous and variable challenges he faces. Cutts was the keynote speaker at PubCon, the premier social media and optimization conference in 2013, and it’s easy[…]
The mindful way to crafting and delivering a brilliant presentation
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Aug 17, 2014
Have you been on the recieving end of a brilliant presentation recently? Perphaps you’ve given one yourself. Either way, you’ll know that giving a brilliant presentation at work isn’t easy. It doesn’t involve reading slides, speaking in a monotone voice or dumping data on fellow professionals; that’s very easy to do! The reality is, no[…]
4 powerful ways to connect with your audience
Communication Skills, Leadership, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills Aug 15, 2014
Do you connect with your audience? Are you entirely happy with your presentation skills? What about your colleagues; do they have the presentation skills needed to keep your attention, interest and curiosity? The next time you get to sit through a presentation, make it your business to have a good look around the audience[…]
‘Death by bullet point’- Is it really that bad?
Bullet Point, Communication Skills, PowerPoint, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Aug 14, 2014
‘Death by Bullet Point’ – What do you think, is it really that bad? If used correctly there’s nothing wrong with PowerPoint or most other visual aid software. It can be used to great effect to significantly enhance your message, make it more meaningful and of course memorable. I’ve seen PowerPoint and other visual aid[…]
Stop networking and start connecting – Why and how
Advice, Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Aug 13, 2014
At Mindful Presenter the underlying sentiment that fuels our business and drives everyone who works here is our core belief and ethos that ‘Connecting is everything’; it’s on our website, business cards, and etched in hearts and minds too. When we’re not helping businesses connect with their people we are helping speakers and presenters from[…]
This week the world is feeling the loss of a monumental actor and comic genius who won the hearts and minds of millions of people since the 1970’s. Robin Williams the Oscar winning actor brought laughter and joy to countless people from all ages and generations; yet it’s reported that he himself suffered from severe[…]
If you face a speech impediment, you know that public speaking can present unique challenges. However, it’s important to remember that many successful speakers have navigated similar experiences and found ways to connect with their audiences. Take, for example, Megan Washington, the ARIA award-winning Australian singer-songwriter. She has openly discussed her struggles with a[…]
Public speaking lessons from Michael Bay. People won’t throw knives at you, scratch your car, or storm out of the room during your presentation, and nobody has ever died from forgetting their words. The reality is that, whoever you are, most people want to see you succeed. No one wishes to witness your struggle or[…]
The Importance of Feedback in Developing Presentation Skills
Leadership, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Aug 06, 2014
Have you ever received feedback on your presentation skills? To truly develop ourselves as public speakers, presenters, and leaders, one crucial aspect we often need more of is feedback. Reflecting back over 35 years, as a young manager, I thought I knew it all. I was climbing the corporate ladder at an impressive rate; everything[…]
Manage Public Speaking Anxiety: Techniques for Confident Presentations
Anxiety, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Aug 05, 2014
If you feel nervous about speaking in public or presenting at work, you know how unpleasant it can be. Many symptoms of nervousness are akin to other high-pressure situations, such as asking someone out on a date, going for a job interview, or taking a driving test. Shortness of breath, sweaty palms, dry mouth, queasy[…]
Overcoming Public Speaking Anxiety: Confidence Through Intention
Anxiety, Leadership, Mindfulness, nervous, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking, Storytelling Aug 04, 2014
You can be very nervous and still deliver a great speech. At Mindful Presenter, we successfully help people overcome their public speaking anxiety, so if the thought of presenting makes you anxious, you’re not alone, you’re in good company. Throughout history, many individuals have openly admitted their nerves before delivering important speeches, often feeling they[…]
Presenting Without PowerPoint: Lessons from Simon Sinek
Leadership, Mindfulness, PowerPoint, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking, Storytelling Aug 03, 2014
Is PowerPoint the first tool you reach for when called to present? Simon Sinek’s inspirational TED talk, “How Great Leaders Inspire Action,” is a shining example of how effective public speakers can engage and inspire an audience without relying on slides. With 21 million YouTube views, it’s clear why Simon is regarded as a “visionary[…]
The Power of Breath: Elevate Your Public Speaking Skills
Leadership, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jul 31, 2014
The best presenters understand the power of their breath and know how to harness it to their advantage when speaking. One of the very first lessons in effective public speaking coaching is learning how to breathe properly, especially for those who suffer from public speaking anxiety. Even if nerves aren’t an issue for you, focusing[…]
Overcoming Public Speaking Anxiety: Empower Your Mind
Anxiety, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking, Storytelling Jul 30, 2014
If you Google the search term “public speaking anxiety,” you’ll encounter an avalanche of articles offering advice, from relaxation techniques to the infamous suggestion of imagining your audience naked; though the latter is perhaps less than helpful! If you struggle with public speaking anxiety, consider enrolling in a mindfully crafted public speaking course; it can[…]
Dalton Sherman: A Shining Example of How to Own the Stage
Advice, Presentating training, Public Speaking Jul 29, 2014
Dalton Sherman is a prime example of owning the stage. His impressive presentation skills likely stem from effective training and practice. Watching him connect with and inspire an audience through charm, authenticity, and a compelling message is truly remarkable. In just 9 minutes, this young orator captures the hearts and minds of 20,000 adults.[…]
Presenting Isn’t Simply About Sharing Knowledge; It’s About Connecting with Your Audience
Leadership, Presentating training, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking, Storytelling Jul 27, 2014
Presentation training goes beyond simply sharing knowledge, insights, and information. Ultimately, it’s about fostering a genuine connection with your audience. When you step onto the stage or in front of a crowd, you can be certain that you’re addressing a diverse group of individuals. Some may not be interested in being there; a few might[…]
