Questions can be a major source of anxiety for many presenters. In our presentation skills courses we are often asked to help people to answer questions more professionally. It’s a much bigger issue than many people think. When we probe a little deeper to understand the issue, our delegates often ask 3 questions: […]
Posts by:
Maurice Decastro
Presentation Skills: How to answer those killer questions
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips Feb 19, 2017
What does it take to speak effectively in public?
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Feb 11, 2017
The ability to speak effectively in public is probably the most important skill to develop to enhance your career. You, your team, and your entire organisation will be judged on just how effectively you communicate. Presenting information clearly and articulately is no longer good enough We live in an information age where professionals are overwhelmed[…]
Storytelling in business – 5 real examples to learn from
Advice, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips, Public Speaking, Storytelling Feb 04, 2017
Storytelling in business has become the new strategic business tool of presenters. Professionals are overwhelmed with information and demand for our attention is at an unprecedented high. We can all take solace in a good story well told If you still believe that stories are the domain of the 4 year old at bed time[…]
As far as public speaking is concerned Donald Trump’s inauguration speech was clear, decisive and delivered with the appropriate pace, passion and even a few pauses. Apart from his signature circling of his finger and thumb which drove most people mad during his election campaign, which we saw again yesterday, he looked like he had[…]
Donald Trump is moments away from becoming the 45th President of the United States of America. I wonder what he will say in his inauguration speech. Here is a perspective on what he perhaps should say. My fellow-citizens of the United States: Today I stand before you with a heavy, humble yet hopeful heart. I have[…]
It’s no secret that President Obama is one of my favourite public speakers as I’ve written many articles expressing my admiration for his style. His powerful use of descriptive and creative words, his mastery of the ‘pause’, his brilliant use of metaphors, his command of repetition, humour and the skilful way he uses his voice[…]
Michelle Obama: Public speaking advice too “Don’t be afraid”
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jan 07, 2017
Michelle Obama and her husband Barack Obama have long been two of my favourite public speakers. I admire them both for their passion, eloquence and grace each time they take to the podium. Her final speech on Friday as First Lady was no exception as she reflected on her time in the White House delivering[…]
Simon Sinek on Millennials in the Workplace
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jan 04, 2017
Knowing my passion for public speaking my son pointed me in the direction of a Simon Sinek YouTube video. As Simon Sinek is one of my favourite speakers it was something I looked forward to watching. Fifteen minutes in, I felt a litttle troubled by much of his thinking. Why? He cites four reasons why[…]
Powerful presenting is a skill that many people aspire to developing. There is a plethora of information on powerful presenting available on the internet and in book stores. Some good and some not so good Imagine if everything we’ve learned over the last 2000 years about powerful presenting could be handed to you gift wrapped,[…]
There is no shortage of public speaking advice on the internet, in magazines and book stores today. In fact, I have written over 300 articles myself for mindfulpresenter.com and other online publications. I’d like to share some of my favourite public speaking advice from other respected authors in the field of communication skills. Carmine Gallo[…]
The Queen’s Speech on Christmas day opened in a curious way as she began by referring to this year’s British Olympic medal winners in Rio. 67 medals and 147 at the Paralympics is a stunning achievement, definitely worthy of recognition. It wasn’t quite what I expected though In a year in which we saw the[…]
What would your Christmas message be as we head towards 2024? Note: I originally wrote and published this article on the run up to Christmas in 2016. Reflecting on it again today, it occurred to me that my personal message this Christmas would be exactly the same. Every year on Christmas day, a broadcast[…]
5 Important Presentation Lessons from the World of Social Media
Advice, Presentating training, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips Dec 16, 2016
There are 5 very important presentation lessons we can learn from the world of social media. 1. Facebook first That’s exactly what many people would rather be doing whilst they are listening to a presentation. After all, so many business presentations can be quite tedious to listen to. Have you ever felt that urge to[…]
6 Public Speaking Habits to Take Off of Your Naughty List
Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Dec 10, 2016
Are you mindful of your public speaking habits, especially the bad ones? It’s unlikely that a week will pass where you are not called on to either attend of give a presentation. With that in mind, it’s worth becoming aware of your public speaking habits. Get yourself somefeedback through presentation skills coaching or booking yourself[…]
Mindfulness in Public Speaking – 5 ways it can help
Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Dec 03, 2016
Introducing mindfulness in public speaking is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself and your audience. We don’t sit quietly the whole day meditating in our public speaking workshops. At mindful presenter, the concept of mindfulness offers a great deal more It’s a way of living that takes us off of ‘autopilot’ and[…]
Public Speaking: How to speak up for yourself
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Nov 28, 2016
Have you ever wondered what it would take to speak up for yourself more effectively? “One word expresses the pathway to greatness: voice. Those on this path find their voice and inspire others to find theirs. The rest never do.” Stephen R. Covey Mindful presenting offer us all the means of finding, valuing and expressing[…]
Vulnerability in Public Speaking – Brené Brown
Leadership, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Nov 18, 2016
Is vulnerability in public speaking something we should be scared of? The brilliant TED talk, ‘The power of vulnerability’ by Brené Brown, demonstrates the premise that we are all here to ‘connect’ and feel that sense of ‘connection’. It challenges the increasingly popular belief that the route to living our best life is through the principle[…]
Yesterday Donald Trump demonstrated unequivocally the impact the spoken word can have not only on a country but the entire world. The announcement that Donald Trump was to become the 45th President of the United States of America to hold the most powerful leadership position in the world was not only a historic one in[…]
A Public Speaking Phenomenon – I feel terrible but you can’t see it
Anxiety, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Oct 23, 2016
Are you familiar with the global public speaking phenomenon? Imagine a presentation where the speaker felt terrified beyond belief, yet the audience had no idea how anxious they were. It really is a presentation and public speaking phenomenon This week I was leading a workshop where one of the best speakers in the room said[…]
Do you know what today’s worst public speaking habit is? If you will be attending some form of business presentation this week, you could very easily hear today’s worst public speaking habit It could be: – The speaker turning her back to their audience whist reading every word sitting alongside a long list of bullet[…]
Do you have bad presenting habits? One of the greatest concerns in the world of public speaking and presenting is bad habits. In fact, it is within the top 3 requests we hear from delegates on every one of presentation training workshops. ‘How can I get rid of my bad presenting habits?’ Here are[…]
There is public speaking and then there is speaking in public with 100M people watching you. Most people don’t like the idea of the first and for those that don’t mind it the majority would perish at the thought. Presidential candidates are different of course and many would argue that they relish the limelight. Last[…]
Leadership is probably one of the most written about skills in business today. Faster, better, cheaper and smarter have long been the leadership mantra It is becoming increasingly hard to deliver faster, better, cheaper and smarter, in the current reality we all face. How do you do this in a working environment where your team[…]
The Professionals Guide to Public Speaking & Presenting
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Sep 10, 2016
Welcome to the professionals guide to public speaking and presenting for one of the most common activities you will see in businesses today. Mindful Presenting is the route to connecting with your audience emotionally as well as intellectually. It is the new science of presenting and public speaking which will end the phenomenon of ‘Death[…]
6 Qualities of Authentic Public Speakers and Presenters
Leadership, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Sep 01, 2016
What are the characteristics of authentic public speakers and presenters? Whether you’re talking about leadership, public speaking or culture, authenticity seems to be the buzzword of the day. In a society which sometimes seems almost numb from chasing success, security and sanity, many people are more discerning when it comes to experiencing authenticity. What[…]
Do you have to be an inspirational speaker to be President?
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Aug 21, 2016
Throughout history American Presidents have delivered some of the world’s finest, most inspirational and memorable speeches. Barack Obama’s forefathers would be proud of many of his speeches: “Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty,[…]
Presentation skills tips from the book ‘Hamster to Harmony’
Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips, Public Speaking Aug 08, 2016
I’ve only just realised that a personal development book I wrote over a decade ago is also full of presentation skills tips. The year 2006 was a big one for me, it was the year I decided to sit down and write down my thoughts on what I believed truly mattered. Three years later[…]
A 60 Minute Masterclass in Public Speaking: Hillary Clinton
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking, Storytelling Jul 31, 2016
Hillary Clinton concluded the speeches of the 2016 Democratic National Convention with a brilliant masterclass in public speaking in just under an hour. This is what we can take for her luminous speech: 1. What’s so important? Your message is the lifeblood of your speech or presentation, it’s the number one thing you want your[…]
“The America I know”: The politics of perceptiontrust?
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jul 30, 2016
The President of the United States and ‘would be’ President have both shared their perspective on ‘The America I know’. Barack Obama talks of an America which is “full of courage, and optimism, and ingenuity.” Donald Trump on the other hand knows an America where “illegal immigrants are roaming free to threaten innocent citizens.” It’s[…]
The Power of Storytelling in Public Speaking – Bill Clinton
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking, Storytelling Jul 29, 2016
It’s no secret that storytelling is the new super power of public speaking in business, politics and even at home. In fact, it’s not new; stories have always been an intrinsic part of everyday life. A good story well told helps us to make sense of things, feel what the speaker feels and even change[…]
