How effective is your public speaking voice? ‘The human voice is the most beautiful instrument of all, but it is the most difficult to play.’ Richard Strauss Despite the truth and elegance of this quote, I believe that the word ‘voice’ means a great deal more than the sound produced in a person’s larynx. The[…]
Browsing:
Communication Skills category
5 Ways to Improve your Public Speaking Voice
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Aug 08, 2022
The business presenters guide to great storytelling at work
Communication Skills, General, Leadership, Storytelling May 18, 2022
Great storytelling is one of the most powerful ways of communicating your message with impact in the workplace today. It’s not new, the Greek philosopher, Aristotle taught us about the value of great storytelling over 2000 years ago. Long before, PowerPoint and Prezi, storytelling has been the key to helping people enjoy, remember and connect[…]
7 Powerful Presentation Habits for 2022
Communication Skills, General, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Dec 28, 2021
Bad presentation habits are easy to find and hard to break. The good ones are available to us all and we don’t have to look too far to find them. Stephen R. Covey’s book, ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ contains everything you need to know to achieve extraordinary results. It is a[…]
5 Reasons why mindful presenting offers benefits outside of the office too
Anxiety, Communication Skills, Leadership, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills Jun 19, 2021
Mindful Presenting offers far more than the key to speaking with confidence, presence and impact. Comnunicating in a way which is clear, memorable and compelling is just the start. The original premise of mindful presenting was to equip professionals to connect with their audience emotionally as well as intellectually. The clarity of this intention[…]
President Joe Biden’s Inauguration Speech – Proof that words really do matter
Communication Skills, Leadership, Mindful Selling, Public Speaking Jan 22, 2021
Joe Biden made his inaugural address on Wednesday. It was an inspirational masterclass in the choice and use of words. I’m not a US citizen, I live in the UK. I’m not particularly interested in politics; I’m interested in people and progress. I have zero interest in division, I live in hope of unity wherever[…]
Three Christmas gifts from Mindful Presenter
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking, Storytelling Dec 20, 2020
It’s nearly Christmas. It won’t be long now until you are spraying yourself with your new scent, trying on your swanky scarf, demolishing the turkey and sipping that Sauvignon. With that in mind, here are 3 christmas gifts from all of us here at Mindful Presenter. This time of year, as we head in to[…]
In Public Speaking The First Few Words Really Matter
Advice, Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Nov 04, 2020
In the world of public speaking and presenting the first few words really do matter. One of the words I find very uncomfortable is, ‘hook’; as in ‘How to hook your audience in the first 30 seconds’. The term suggests to me that audiences are more like fish than intelligent, discerning and creative beings. It’s[…]
Annoying Features of the Mind; not just for presenters but all of us
Communication Skills, General, Leadership, Mindfulness Mar 29, 2020
What is the mind exactly? Is it your brain, your consciousness, the reality of your being, or is it indeterminable and unquantifiable? Many scientists insist on the mind being distinct from the brain yet still struggle to offer a meaningful separation. Despite that, it’s generally accepted that the mind is the seat of our thoughts,[…]
12 Mindful Selling attributes of top performing sales professionals
Communication Skills, Leadership, Mindful Selling, Mindfulness, Sales Skills Mar 19, 2020
Mindful Selling isn’t a new age buzzword riding high on the back of mindfulness. Selling has changed more in the last ten years than it has in the past five decades. Advances in technology, competition, buying decisions, highly discerning and savvy purchasers present today’s sales person with a formidable challenge. Mindful selling is the route[…]
20 Bad public speaking habits a Mindful Presenter avoids
Communication Skills, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips, Public Speaking Mar 16, 2020
Do you have any bad public speaking habits? A mindful presenter considers, crafts and deliver their message with a high level of awareness. A distracted mind has a habit of reacting rather than responding. It operates on autopilot rather than appreciation. A mindful presenter conditions their mind to focus with clarity on how to[…]
How to Present with Confidence – 3 steps to liberation
Anxiety, Communication Skills, General, Leadership, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills Dec 29, 2019
If one of your goals is to present with confidence, Mindful Presenter has the solution. Standing in front of colleagues or clients to speak can be a daunting experience. Public-speaking anxiety isn’t an affliction isolated to the meek or inexperienced. It has no respect for age, position or experience; it can trouble the best[…]
5 Mindfulness techniques to help you to present with confidence, clarity and impact
Communication Skills, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips Nov 23, 2019
Mindfulness is a word that’s being used in just about every walk of life at the moment. Google, Apple, Nike and many of the world’s most successful brands have realised and harnessed the power of mindfulness. Even though it’s a way of living that’s been around for thousands of years, many people are still confused[…]
How to present to smart people -10 tips for presenters
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips Sep 22, 2019
Do you find yourself being called on to present to smart people? I don’t mean people with an IQ of over 140, I mean the rest of us. The world is full of smart people. You can be certain that the next time you present they will be sitting right in front of you. They[…]
The Graduate’s Guide to Nailing That Interview Presentation
Anxiety, Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jun 15, 2019
An interview presentation isn’t something that most of us look forward to giving. In fact, I don’t believe I know anyone who actually enjoys being interviewed. Each year, as we enter summer in the UK, universities up and down the entire country prepare to say congratulations and farewell to the class of that year. After[…]
Your audience are searching; the question is, do you know what for?
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips, Public Speaking May 12, 2019
Everyone is searching for something, including your audience. If they came to listen to you by choice you can be certain that they are looking for something specific. Everyone and everything seem to be searching; let me explain. Sitting quietly in my own back garden this morning I noticed an ant a bee and a[…]
10 Tips for Presenting to Senior management
Communication Skills, Leadership, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips Apr 13, 2019
Presenting to senior management can feel like a challenge for many presenters in organisations today; even the most experienced. It’s one thing having to speak up in a team meeting to update your colleagues on a project you have been working on but having to convince or co-opt the executive is something else. We all[…]
7 Real Examples of How to Open a Presentation With Impact
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips Feb 24, 2019
Do you know how to open a presentation with impact? The most common advice you will hear about opening a presentation is to grab the audience’s attention right from the start. Whilst that’s true, its not enough. At Mindful Presenter we often argue that you have your audience’s attention, after all, they turned up to[…]
10 Simple Tips On Presenting Complex Information
Advice, Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Feb 21, 2019
Do you find yourself presenting complex information to people who don’t have the same level of knowledge or expertise as you do? Presenting complex information can be a significant challenge for even the most seasoned presenter. Regardless of the topic, all presenters share the common goal of ensuring that they keep their audience stimulated.[…]
Are you a confident presenter and public speaker? – these 6 tips will help you
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips, Public Speaking Feb 19, 2019
Are you a confident presenter? Confidence is often cited as one of the most critical factors affecting professionals when it comes to presenting and speaking in public. In fact, it’s one of the biggest hurdles we help people to jump every day at Mindful Presenter. Regardless of status, experience or knowldege many professionals want to[…]
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
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[…]
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[…]
7 Keys to Powerful Digital Presentations in Business
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills Feb 04, 2019
Do you find yourself called on to deliver digital presentations, speaking with colleagues or clients online? Make eye contact, project energy and contrast. Speak, move and connect with your audience. Keep them fully engaged, maintain their attention, interest and curiosity. Deliver a clear and compelling message is often the brief. How do you do all[…]
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[…]
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[…]
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 from[…]
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[…]
The critical role of leadership in presentation skills training
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills Aug 28, 2018
The need for highly effective 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[…]
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[…]
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, 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 what[…]
