Presentation tips are everywhere. Put those two words into Google as I did this morning and you will get 924M results. Tell stories Pause Make eye contact Slow down Know your audience Prepare ‘Cut the fat’ Smile Breathe Move Practice Start strong Close stronger Show passion Ditch the bullet points Following those 15 presentation tips[…]
Posts by:
Maurice Decastro
3 presentation tips you don’t often hear from the experts
Bullet Point, Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips, Public Speaking Feb 18, 2019
4 potent ways to open your presentation with impact
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Feb 09, 2019
A presentation that doesn’t start with impact is like a plane that doesn’t take off. You may have the fuel, the pilot and the passengers but the journey doesn’t begin until the wheels leave the ground. As a presenter, you have the same challenge as the pilot; you have to get that plane off the[…]
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 Powerful Digital Presentations in Business
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills Feb 04, 2019
In today’s world, virtual meetings and digital presentations are the norm. Presenting face to face is often an onerous task for even the most experienced business professional. Now we are increasingly called on to do it digitally. – Get close to the camera, but not too close. – Make eye contact, project energy and make[…]
Presentation Content – make sure yours is compelling
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jan 23, 2019
How rich and compelling is your presentation content? The prerequisite to a brilliant presentation, before focusing on delivery, is to ensure that your message is supported by rich, relevant and rewarding content. Sometimes it can be helpful learning from the mistakes of other professionals. I recently attended a conference which was designed to show leaders[…]
Presentation mistakes to avoid when presenting to the boss
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jan 13, 2019
Presentation mistakes are very easy to make, especially when presenting to the boss. I still remember the very first time I was invited to make a presentation to my senior management team. I couldn’t sleep for days. My mind was filled with dread and every nerve, cell and fibre of my entire being felt like[…]
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[…]
Don’t just present, make a few waves too
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Nov 25, 2018
If you are called on to present soon, take a moment to ponder on the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson: ‘Waves are inspiring not because they rise and fall, but because each time they fall they never fail to rise again.’ When it comes to presenting our ideas with clarity, confidence and impact, many of[…]
The 5 Most Important Words in Business Presenting
General, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Nov 04, 2018
Business presenting is a challenge for many people. Millions of professionals are presenting their ideas to clients and colleagues all over the world every day. For many, it’s a challenge because they know that they can’t simply turn up and read out their slides. Reading slides in business presenting may have been acceptable two or[…]
4 Keys to Successful Company Summits or Conferences
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Oct 21, 2018
Company summits and leadership conferences present an invaluable platform to inspire, enthuse and rally the troops. Whether you’re celebrating success or need that extra lift to meet your business targets, the vital ingredient required for success is communication. The courageous leaders understand that it’s not an expense, it’s a visionary investment. Most shy away[…]
Meghan Markle: The power of a smile in public speaking
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Sep 23, 2018
Meghan Markle showed us the power, grace and beauty of a smile in her first big speech as a member of the Royal family. Without notes, prompters, slides or a script she spoke for 3 minutes in the most charismatic and authentic way. I believe one of the many reasons which made this short[…]
Theresa May: “It is something I will never agree to…” 2 Powerful Public Speaking Lessons from Theresa May
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Sep 22, 2018
Theresa May demonstrated the power of clarity to the EU following the recent summit in Salzburg. The uncertainty of Brexit has left many of us in the UK dismayed, disillusioned and divided. Politicians and punters everywehere are telling us what to think about Brexit. That’s why as a public speaking coach I found Theresa May’s[…]
7 lessons from Barack Obama that will make you a better presenter
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips, Public Speaking Sep 16, 2018
Former President Barack Obama is noted for his public speaking excellence. His speeches have changed the way countless people communicate. He is regarded as one of the worlds most gifted and powerful orators today. His speech to more than a thousand students at the University of Illinois-Urbana was charged with public speaking lessons for all[…]
The critical role of leadership in presentation skills training
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills Aug 28, 2018
The need for leadership in presentation skills is profoundly evident in the workplace today. Every day, in businesses all over the world professionals find themselves presenting in: – Meetings – Conference calls – Conferences – Networking functions – Important staff and management updates – Pitches to clients Outside of those scenarios, arguably every conversation is[…]
Improve your presence in business presenting and public speaking
Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Aug 19, 2018
Presence is the ‘jewel in the crown’ of high impact business presenting. It’s the elixir of public speaking and presenting that allows us to communicate creatively with clarity and confidence. If you could buy it in a pill or a potion someone would be extremely rich. Paradoxically despite it being such a coveted trait, it[…]
Do you have the presentation skills zest to connect with an audience?
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Aug 05, 2018
Do you have the presentation skills zest to connect with an audience? For many professionals, being on the receiving end of a typical business presentation today feels akin to the way they wake up most mornings; tired, vacant and depleted. How many business presentations do you walk away from each week filled with vigour[…]
The World is Changing – What About Public Speaking?
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jul 24, 2018
We live in a world of change; the question is, has public speaking and business presenting changed over the last 3 decades? We now have: The internet Wi- Fi Email MRI DNA testing Non-invasive surgery GPS ATMs Wind turbines Bio fuels Facebook… That’s just scratching the surface of advances in technology and we all know[…]
The Most Important Word in High Impact Presenting
Anxiety, Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jul 22, 2018
The penultimate word in the series of The A to Z of Mindful Presenting is arguably the most important; it’s YES. One of my wife’s favourite TV programmes is an American series called ‘Say Yes to the Dress’. The TV show revolves around Kleinfeld Bridal, the Manhattan-based bridal salon where, ‘more than 250 professionals, most[…]
Have you given your presentation an X ray to find the gold?
Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jul 17, 2018
Being on the receiving end of a bad presentation is akin to the feelings associated with breaking a bone in your body. – Your frustration begins to swell and your patience is bruised – You experience a loss of function – your ability to concentrate – The pain gets worse the longer the presenter[…]
The most important word in public speaking and presenting is: W – Why
Anxiety, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jun 24, 2018
Are you clear on your message? Public speaking and presenting at work isn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination. Most people would rather do anything else than stand to speak in front of the public, clients or colleagues. If it happens to be something that you enjoy and look forward to, congratulations. The National[…]
16 presentation tips to help you to stand out from the crowd
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips Jun 10, 2018
Would you like to stand out from the crowd as a presenter? Cast your mind back to the last business presentation you sat through. Did the speaker drone on and on telling you things that had little relevance or value to you? Or Did they capture and maintain your attention, interest and curiosity throughout their[…]
Presenting in business meetings is a challenge
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills May 22, 2018
For decades presenting in business meetings has been far too lacklustre. I’m generalising of course, although I’m not exaggerating. Despite the widely acclaimed power of storytelling, presence and mindfulness, many professionals still insist on donning their corporate spokesperson cloaks. The result of which is that many lose their sense of selves and tell their audience[…]
STORIES – The Key to High Impact Presenting
Presentation Skills, Public Speaking, Storytelling May 13, 2018
Stories are the key to a high impact business presenting. They are the jewel in the crown of public speaking. Stories are the most powerful route to connecting emotionally with an audience. Whether you are looking to lead change, inspire action or unify a team, you have to tell them a story worth getting behind.[…]
Mindful Presenting – 9 Ways to RESPECT your Audience
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Apr 08, 2018
The first commandment of mindful presenting is, to respect your audience. The most precious resource we all have, is of course time. Each time we present we are using peoples most valuable asset, time. We live in such a fast-paced world with so many demands on our time that we scarcely find moments to value[…]
Questions: How NOT to answer them like a politician
Advice, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Apr 01, 2018
Questions are the Achilles heel of the inexperienced, unprepared and nervous presenter. At least, that’s what most people would assume. Whilst it’s true, it’s not isolated to those groups. In fact, even seasoned public speakers and presenters find the moment they are called on to answer questions the most challenging. Even politicians. After all, we[…]
6 powerful principles of persuasion in presenting
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills Mar 25, 2018
If you are presenting or speaking in public in any form, it’s highly likely that persuasion is high on your agenda. Whatever your position and role is in the workplace today, you can be sure that you will be required to persuade others to understand your perspective and agree with you. Whether you are pitching[…]
Stephen Hawking – The A to Z of Mindful Presenting: O – Original
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Mar 17, 2018
Stephen Hawking is a name that will be remembered for an extraordinarily long time to come. A British cosmologist and physicist loved, admired and respected all over the world for his notable scientific work was also a brilliant public speaker. World class public speaking is normally associated with political leaders or motivational speakers Last week[…]
The A to Z of Mindful Presenting: N – Noise
Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Mar 03, 2018
We live in a world of noise. For many of us we shock ourselves to consciousness each morning through the shrill of an alarm. Whether it’s a good old-fashioned alarm clock or more likely our mobile phone, several hours of deep slumber is jarred by noise. Some of us will immediately reach for our mobile[…]
What is a mindfulness based presentation?
Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Feb 18, 2018
Do you craft and deliver a mindfulness based presentation? Mindfulness isn’t about sitting in the lotus position struggling to notice your breath as it’s stifled by burning incense. It isn’t about stopping thought, transcending or escaping. It’s about connecting Connecting with yourself first and then everyone and everything around you. This article isn’t about mindfulness[…]
Donald Trump’s State of the Union: Public speaking progress?
Communication Skills, Leadership, Public Speaking Feb 03, 2018
Donald Trump the 45th President of the United States gave his first State of the Union Address this week. As a public speaking coach with far more of a passion for what we can all learn from the rhetoric of world leaders than their politics I find myself called to tune into them. I believe[…]
