Leadership is probably one of the most written-about skills in business today. For decades, the mantra has been the same: faster, better, cheaper, smarter. However, in the world we now inhabit, one defined by constant change, competing priorities, and a workforce yearning for belonging, purpose, connection, and well-being, that mantra is becoming increasingly difficult to[…]
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Communication Skills category
A Communication Coach’s View: What We Can Learn from Two Leadership Speeches
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jul 08, 2016
In September 2016, members of the Conservative Party were preparing to choose the UK’s second female Prime Minister. Two candidates emerged at the forefront of the conversation: Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom. Their political positions and policy priorities were widely discussed, but from a communication perspective, the more interesting question was this: How effectively did[…]
Public Speaking Is the Most Important Skill in the World Today
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking May 22, 2016
We live in a world built on communication. Every law, every breakthrough, every movement, every moment of progress began with someone standing up and speaking. Communication changes the world It always has. Whenever a leader brings people together, a teacher sparks curiosity, a parent soothes a child, and a community unites in crisis, it[…]
Why Effective Communication Is the Skill That Shapes Your Life, Your Work and Your Impact
Communication Skills, Leadership, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking May 04, 2016
Communication is the thread that runs through every moment of our lives. It shapes how we think, how we feel, how we relate to others and how we move through the world. It influences our confidence, our relationships, our careers, our opportunities and even our sense of identity. The ability to communicate effectively isn’t a[…]
Why Every High-Impact Presentation Begins with Strategy
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Feb 28, 2016
Having a clear, compelling and concentrated presentation strategy isn’t a luxury. It’s the foundation of every successful business presentation. Without it, even the smartest content collapses under its own weight. The problem is that “strategy” has been written about so endlessly, and often so unnecessarily complexly, that many people feel intimidated by the word before[…]
The 3 Bad Presentation Habits That Quietly Destroy Your Impact
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Feb 14, 2016
Every presenter wants to connect with their audience, and every audience wants to be engaged, yet three habits continue to sabotage even the most well-intentioned speakers. These habits aren’t dramatic, they’re subtle and often creep in unnoticed, quietly draining the life out of your message. Let’s bring them into the light. Bad Habit 1:[…]
The Future of High-Impact Presenting Is Mindfulness
Communication Skills, Leadership, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Dec 19, 2015
Search “presentation skills” on Amazon, and you’ll drown in more than 40,000 results. Google multiplies that into a billion, and yet, despite this ocean of advice, most of it still circles the same shallow waters: – Keep your hands out of your pockets. – Don’t fidget. – Just be yourself – Make eye contact. It’s[…]
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[…]
Public Speaking Lessons We Can Learn from President Obama
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jul 12, 2015
There are many public speaking lessons we can learn from President Obama. As a speaker, I’ve never hidden the fact that he stands out to me as one of the most gifted orators of our time. Politics aside, what interests me is how he delivers a message: the structure, emotion, connection and the lessons he[…]
How to Close a Presentation With Power, Confidence and Impact
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jun 13, 2015
Closing a presentation can feel even more challenging than opening one. We all understand the importance of making a strong first impression, but the last impression is just as critical, and far too many presenters overlook it. Some of the best presentations are weakened by a few moments of hesitation at the end. A[…]
How to Make a Powerful First Impression When You Present
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking May 17, 2015
How long do you really have before your audience forms an impression of you? Five seconds? Ten? Longer? According to researchers at Princeton University, it takes just one-tenth of a second for someone to judge us the moment they see our face. It sounds extreme, but think about the last time you met a[…]
How to Use Your Public Speaking Voice With Power and Presence
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Apr 23, 2015
You’ve done the work, you understand your audience and have crafted the conversation you want to have, know your story inside out, and you’ve pictured what success looks like. Now comes the part many presenters overlook: how you use your voice. Effective communication is both verbal and nonverbal. The words you choose matter enormously,[…]
How to Manage Presentation Nerves and Speak with Confidence
Anxiety, Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Apr 09, 2015
Y Would you like to learn how to manage presentation nerves? Even George Foreman, twice heavyweight boxing champion of the world, once said, “I was a tiger, a good fighter, in good shape, but I was always nervous before boxing matches”, and he didn’t even have to speak. If a world champion can feel nervous[…]
5 Key Agreements for More Effective Business Meetings
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips Feb 19, 2015
In today’s fast-paced corporate environment, many business meetings serve as complex and demanding decision-making forums. If you spend time in business meetings, you’ve likely noticed a paradox: you must prepare exhaustively for every conceivable outcome while also being ready to improvise in the moment. Understanding Meeting Dynamics You may have experienced three very different types[…]
There have been many adjectives used to describe Boris Johnson: eccentric, clever, politically astute, lovable, funny, quirky, self-promoting, arrogant, charming, flamboyant, and larger than life. Some believe he excels as the Mayor of London and should lead the Conservative Party, while others might prefer he take a different path entirely. This post focuses[…]
Understanding Nigel Farage’s Unique Speaking Style
Advice, Communication Skills, Public Speaking Sep 28, 2014
Whether you like them or agree with them or not, figures like David Cameron, Nick Clegg, Ed Miliband, and Nigel Farage know how to speak in public. Some might argue they do it better than others, each possessing an individual style that shines when the pressure is on. Last week, Nigel Farage spoke at the[…]
Beyond the Elevator Speech: Engaging Networking Strategies
Advice, Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Sep 15, 2014
I enjoy networking, although I’m not a fan of the traditional elevator speech. “Good morning, my name is John, and I’m a partner at ABC; solicitors, accountants, marketing, training, etc. We are based in Richmond and have been in business for thirty years. Not only do we provide excellent customer service, but we also offer[…]
Keynote by Tim Cook – Steve Jobs Would Be Proud
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Sep 09, 2014
Yesterday, Apple CEO Tim Cook unveiled the birth of the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 plus and the Apple Watch. His predecessor, the late Steve Jobs was long hailed as one of the best keynote speakers and presenters in the world. It could have been no easy feat to follow in the footsteps of such[…]
The mindful way to crafting and delivering a brilliant presentation
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Aug 17, 2014
Have you been on the recieving end of a brilliant presentation recently? Perphaps you’ve given one yourself. Either way, you’ll know that giving a brilliant presentation at work isn’t easy. It doesn’t involve reading slides, speaking in a monotone voice or dumping data on fellow professionals; that’s very easy to do! The reality is, no[…]
4 powerful ways to connect with your audience
Communication Skills, Leadership, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills Aug 15, 2014
Do you connect with your audience? Are you entirely happy with your presentation skills? What about your colleagues; do they have the presentation skills needed to keep your attention, interest and curiosity? The next time you get to sit through a presentation, make it your business to have a good look around the audience[…]
‘Death by bullet point’- Is it really that bad?
Bullet Point, Communication Skills, PowerPoint, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Aug 14, 2014
‘Death by Bullet Point’ – What do you think, is it really that bad? If used correctly there’s nothing wrong with PowerPoint or most other visual aid software. It can be used to great effect to significantly enhance your message, make it more meaningful and of course memorable. I’ve seen PowerPoint and other visual aid[…]
Stop networking and start connecting – Why and how
Advice, Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Aug 13, 2014
At Mindful Presenter the underlying sentiment that fuels our business and drives everyone who works here is our core belief and ethos that ‘Connecting is everything’; it’s on our website, business cards, and etched in hearts and minds too. When we’re not helping businesses connect with their people we are helping speakers and presenters from[…]
