“Don’t think. Feel. It is like a finger pointing out to the Moon, don’t concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory.” Bruce Lee Bruce Lee was arguably the greatest martial artist in history. Watch one of my favourite scene again last night in ‘Enter the Dragon‘ got me thinking about[…]
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Advice category
A Powerful Presentation Tip from the Late Bruce Lee
Advice, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips, Public Speaking Apr 09, 2016
Hillary Clinton – Shares Lessons In Mindful Presenting
Advice, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips, Public Speaking Apr 02, 2016
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton visited a Baptist Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin last week to participate and speak on the subject of gun violence. A few weeks before that she spoke in Miami, Florida at what is known in American political campaigning as ‘Super Tuesday’. In two completely different speaking forums with strikingly contrasting tones[…]
Powerful presentation tips may offer the answer to transforming tedious business meetings which leave so many professionals uninspired. A number of readers seemed to empathise with a previous article I wrote, having left comments such as: ‘My previous employer needs to read this’ ‘Whew! I thought it was just me!’ ‘Many companies could take notes[…]
Presenting With Influence: How to Reach Any Audience
Advice, Presentating training, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips Mar 19, 2016
Life is full of great presentation tips. As a child my parents invested enormous energy trying hard to influence so much of my behaviour. At school, it seemed my teachers roles extended way beyond my academic development. They also had a plan to influence my thoughts and behaviour. Even my friends seemed to have their[…]
Presentation Tips You Don’t Hear – Write in Your Diary I often find that the most valuable presentation tips are the ones you simply don’t hear or read every day. Picturing yourself in the comfort of your own mind succeeding at something before you actually do it is an extremely powerful tool known as visualization.[…]
‘The Curse of Knowledge’ is one of the biggest obstacles presenters face, and most don’t even realise they’re under its spell. We see it every week in our workshops. In simple terms, the curse is the assumption that other people know what you know, and it tricks you into believing your audience understands you[…]
How to Transform the Dreaded Monthly Update Into Something People Actually Want to Hear
Advice Jan 31, 2016
For many professionals, presenting the monthly update feels less like communication and more like a ritual. It’s the last Friday of the month, and everyone sits in the same seats around the same table. The agenda barely changes, and one by one, people go around the room and say largely the same things they[…]
Authenticity is one of the most admired qualities in leadership and public speaking. When someone speaks with honesty and presence, we feel it immediately. It’s refreshing, human and memorable, but authenticity isn’t as simple as “just be yourself.” If only it were Audiences today are highly discerning. They can sense insincerity instantly and disengage the[…]
Who would have thought it possible to ‘wow’ your audience in less than 2 minutes So much has been written about the skill of speaking and presenting in public. I’ve written over 100 articles myself in the last year alone. I’ve written an entire series about the ‘Art and Science of Presenting’, opening, closing, storytelling,[…]
Presenting is only as complex as you make it Our clients often present a similar opening challenge to us with each enquiry: “Our work is very technical and complex to explain. It is important to ensure that we are able to simplify our message and communicate it clearly.” We get it, every business is unique[…]
Presenting Words of Wisdom from Public Speaking Masterminds
Advice, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips Dec 31, 2015
Do you know a presentation mastermind? We all have people who we admire and respect in our chosen passion. I have quite a few. Many are authors, speakers or leaders who are making a difference in the world. As a presentation skills coach it wouldn’t surprise you that I like a presentation mastermind. I’ve written[…]
Here are 5 Presentation lessons from fastcompany.com Presenting is about crafting and delivering a persuasive message with meaningful stories. After all, there’s not much point in delivering an Oscar winning performance if your objective is to lead your audience into action and they simply applaud and do nothing. The following 5 Presentation lessons from fastcompany.com[…]
Tthe following 5 presentation nuggets from forbes.com will serve you well the next time you are asked to present. 1. Believe in Your Audience “Employees mirror the enthusiasm, determination, and direction of a leader who shares innate confidence in their competence. With this understanding, employees learn to “act their parts” and exemplify the underlying[…]
Here are 5 presentation gems from Inc.com Each of the following extracts from Inc.com will help you to raise the bar on your own presentation performance: 1. Present like a GPS, not like a road map “A GPS shows you just the information you absolutely need to know at that moment. The key is simplicity,[…]
How to Turn a Boring Subject into a Brilliant Presentation
Advice, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips, Public Speaking Dec 26, 2015
Do you know how to turn a boring subject into a brilliant presentation? Here’s the truth most professionals never want to admit: There is no such thing as a boring topic, only a boring approach. You can speak about algorithms, algebra or actuarial science and still captivate an audience. Your presentation will only ever be[…]
Think back over the last three months. How many business presentations genuinely gave you what you needed, clearly, concisely, and with respect for your time? How many were padded with: – information you already knew – unnecessary detail – repetition – self-promotion – content that wasn’t relevant – very little actual value If you’re like[…]
Presenting With Impact: The Power of Presence
Advice, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Nov 28, 2015
Presenting with impact doesn’t come naturally to everyone, but it is within everyone’s reach. The key is presence At Mindful Presenter, we define presence as a blend of poise, self-assurance and emotional connection. It’s the ability to make people feel your message and understand it. Presence is credibility, authority and likability woven together; the[…]
In our training workshops, one request comes up again and again: “Can you help me answer questions with confidence?” Most presentations involve a Q&A, and for many professionals, it’s the part they fear most. After investing hours crafting their message, this is the moment they feel exposed. What if: – They ask something I don’t[…]
There are many potential obstacles to high-impact presenting, and the good news is that every single one of them can be overcome. Here are four of the most common barriers professionals face, and how to move past them. Mindfulness (or the absence of it) Far too many professionals don’t prepare presentations; they survive them.[…]
Presentation lessons surround us everywhere. If there is grandeur involved, you can be sure there is something you can take to your next presentation. That includes Bonfire Night. If you’re visiting a professional display this bonfire night watch carefully. There will be valuable presentation lessons right in front of you. I was spoiled by[…]
For years, something about the monthly meeting I attend at work never sat right. There was a pattern; predictable, familiar, and quietly unproductive. The same people sat in the same seats, month after month, as though the chairs were assigned by invisible ink. Managers delivered long lists of KPIs, most of which had little relevance[…]
Apple has long been hailed as one of the most innovative, influential and admired companies in the world. If you’ve ever used any of their products it’s pretty easy to understand why. I’ve often heard it said that when you’re talking about some of the most advanced and popular products on the planet, it’s[…]
Everything in business has changed, except the way many people present. Technology has advanced, markets have shifted, and leadership expectations have evolved, yet the culture of presenting in many organisations remains rooted in the past. This raises a difficult but essential question: Has your organisation kept pace with the times, or are you inadvertently adding[…]
What you say matters enormously, but how you say it can either elevate your message or quietly dismantle it. Most presenters know they should stand tall, smile, and avoid crossing their arms. Confident body language is far more than posture and gestures; it’s about presence, intention, energy, and the way you inhabit the space around[…]
How to Stop Waffling and Start Presenting with Clarity and Purpose
Advice, Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips Aug 02, 2015
The internet is overflowing with presentation tips designed to help professionals eliminate bad habits. You’ll find advice on avoiding filler words, stopping the fidgeting, and resisting the urge to read every bullet point on your slides. One of the most damaging habits rarely gets the attention it deserves: waffling. Waffling is when a presenter speaks[…]
I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed a sales pitch where the speaker calls the president “incompetent,” labels the competition “stupid,” and then proceeds to insult his own business partners, until now. That’s exactly what Donald Trump did during his rambling speech at the Phoenix Convention Centre last week. With an audience of thousands in[…]
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[…]
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.[…]
