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[…]
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Leadership
President Joe Biden’s Inauguration Speech – Proof that words really do matter
Communication Skills, Leadership, Public Speaking Jan 22, 2021
7 Powerful Presentation & Public Speaking Habits for 2021
Communication Skills, General, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Dec 29, 2020
Presentation skills 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[…]
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,[…]
Public Speaking in Schools and at Home – A message for teachers and parents
Leadership, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking, Storytelling Mar 26, 2020
As schools all over the world have been closed for months and we are now entering the school summer holidays in the UK, I’m reminded once again of what I believe is a dire need for public speaking to be taught both in schools and at home. The benefits of learning to speak confidently in[…]
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 presents today’s sales person with a formidable challenge. Mindful selling is the route[…]
How to Present with Confidence in 2021 – 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 in 2021, 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[…]
Two types of presenter – The autopilot majority v the mindful minority
Leadership, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips Oct 07, 2019
Everyone is a presenter; the question is, what type of presenter are you? Every day, in organisations across the world, millions of people are presenting. They are called on to inform, update, inspire and lead colleagues and customers to think or act differently. Many don’t have the time, inclination or knowledge to present as effectively[…]
The Presenting Challenge – How to inspire action and lead change
General, Leadership, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips Aug 31, 2019
The presenting challenge is real. We are heading towards the end of 2020 and politicians still won’t answer a simple question directly. Most business presentations are still boring and virtual presenting hasn’t helped the phenomenon of ‘death by bullet point.’ With more and more of us stifling yawns on Zoom and sneaking a quick look[…]
10 Tips for Presenting With Impact to Senior management
Communication Skills, Leadership, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips Apr 13, 2019
Presenting to senior management is a challenge for most 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 value our[…]
Mindful leadership is not only the key to success but is critical to our well-being, happiness and peace of mind. Whether it’s you or I leading our own personal lives in this uncertain world or the CEO at the helm of the world’s largest business, leadership matters. In his article, 6 Steps Towards Mindful Leadership,[…]
What you can’t buy from a presentation coach (can you?)
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Feb 20, 2019
A really good presentation coach can teach you a great deal about how to engage and connect with an audience with confidence, authority and impact. Much of what you need to know about how to craft and deliver a memorable presentation has already been written about. A mindful public speaking coach will help you[…]
3 presentation tips you don’t often hear from the experts
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Feb 18, 2019
Presentation tips are everywhere. Put those two words into Google as I did this morning and you will get 1,190,000,000 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 tips alone will[…]
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
Do you find yourself called on to deliver digital presentations, speaking with colleagues or clients online or via video? Make eye contact, project energy and contrast, speak, move and connect with your audience. Keep them fully engaged, maintain their attention, interest and curiosity whilst delivering a clear and compelling message is often the brief. How[…]
Presentation Skills – Content is King; make sure yours is compelling
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jan 23, 2019
Many articles posted on the Internet today about presentation skills tend to focus largely on delivery style rather than content. Delivery is critical of course, although you can be the most engaging and inspirational presenter on earth but if your content is weak or boring what’s the point? The prerequisite to a brilliant presentation before[…]
Mistakes to avoid making when presenting to the boss (or any other human being)
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jan 13, 2019
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 they were preparing for a major meltdown. I was only in my early[…]
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
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Nov 04, 2018
Business presenting is easy. Millions of professionals are presenting their ideas to clients and colleagues all over the world every day. For many it’s perceived as easy because they believe that all they have to do is read. To enter any organisation today the ability to read is of course a fundamental prerequisite. You’ve seen[…]
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[…]
Jeremy Corbyn: Took one step forward in public speaking and then two steps backwards
Communication Skills, Leadership, Public Speaking Sep 30, 2018
Listening to Jeremy Corbyn deliver his Labour conference speech in Liverpool last week reminded me of some research I had read several years ago. This was a study by Harvard psychologists Matthew Killingsworth and Daniel Gilbert which suggested that the human mind has a tendency to wander almost 50% of the time. In this instance,[…]
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. Over the last few months the uncertainty of Brexit has left many of us in the UK dismayed, disillusioned and divided. Every day our television screens are commandeered by politicians and punters telling us what to think about Brexit.[…]
7 takeaways from Barack Obama’s latest speech that will make you a better presenter
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Sep 16, 2018
Former President Barack Obama has been noted for his public speaking excellence for over a decade. In 2004 he raised the bar from presenters and public speakers all over the world when he delivered his keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention in Boston. Since that moment which propelled him into the spotlight his speeches[…]
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 a presentation. There is rarely a[…]
The A to Z of Mindful Presenting – High Impact Public Speaking & Presentation Skills Z – Zest
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Aug 05, 2018
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 and vitality? Sadly, it’s more likely that you’ll return to your desk or[…]
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[…]
9 Ways to Improve your Presenting and Public Speaking Voice
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jun 17, 2018
‘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 verbal expression of our message is of[…]
16 presentation tips to make you stand out from the crowd: U – Unusual
Leadership, Presentation Skills Jun 10, 2018
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 presentation? If your experience was more of the former description please don’t[…]
The TRUTH About Many Business Presentations Today
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills May 22, 2018
Do you enjoy most business presentations you attend? For decades presenting in business meetings has been far too lacklustre. I’m generalising of course, although I’m not exaggerating. At Mindful Presenter we see evidence of this every week. Despite the widely acclaimed power of storytelling, presence and mindfulness professionals still insist on donning their corporate spokesperson[…]
Mindful Presenting – 9 Ways to RESPECT your Audience
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Apr 08, 2018
Mindful presenting holds the key to high impact public speaking and presenting. At the very heart of mindful presenting is the word ‘respect’. Presenting is one of the greatest privileges any of us could experience. When you pause for a moment to consider the most precious resource we all have, it is of course[…]
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[…]
