A presentation that doesn’t start with impact is like a plane that never takes off. You can have the fuel, the pilot, and the passengers, but the journey doesn’t begin until the wheels lift off the ground. Presenters face the same challenge. Your audience will decide within the first 90 seconds whether they trust you[…]
Posts by:
Maurice Decastro
How to Open a Presentation with Impact
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Feb 09, 2019
Donald trump’s 2nd state of the union: Cool & Calm, or dull?
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Feb 06, 2019
Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States gave his second State of the Union Address yesterday. Politics aside, I often find myself called on to review the rhetoric of world leaders to see what we can learn from them in the way of connecting with an audience. Commenting on Donald Trump’s oratory skills[…]
7 Keys to Delivering Powerful Digital Presentations
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills Feb 04, 2019
In today’s world, virtual meetings and digital presentations have become the default. If presenting face-to-face can feel daunting even for experienced professionals, doing it via a webcam often presents an entirely different challenge. Suddenly, we’re expected to control lighting, framing, eye contact, energy, interactivity, background choices, and the skill of keeping people engaged while they[…]
How Rich and Compelling Is Your Presentation Content?
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jan 23, 2019
Before discussing delivery, confidence, or stage presence, we must confront a more fundamental truth: a brilliant presentation starts with brilliant content. Content that is rich, relevant, and genuinely rewarding, not just more of the same dressed up as insight. Sometimes the quickest way to grasp what excellent content is like is to endure a[…]
The Truth About Presenting to Senior Leaders — And the Mistakes That Hold Us Back
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jan 13, 2019
There are moments in a career that feel seismic. The first time you present to senior leadership is one of them. I still remember mine with uncomfortable clarity. I was in my early twenties, summoned to speak to a room of people whose titles felt larger than life. Sleep abandoned me for days. My[…]
Presenting ‘Christmas Presence’ – A Year-Round Gift for Presenters
General, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Dec 22, 2018
It’s Christmas Eve and many of us are focused on presents rather than presence. At this time of year once the frenzy is over, the gifts are wrapped and the the chaos abates, we get to slow down and calm down. Liberated from the maelstrom of over indulgence, spending and preparing, we begin to regain[…]