Michelle Obama and her husband Barack Obama have long been two of my favourite public speakers. Few people consistently combine passion, eloquence, and grace. Whenever either of them steps up to a podium, you can be sure you’ll witness clarity, conviction, and humanity in equal measure. Her concluding speech as First Lady was no exception[…]
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Leadership category
Michelle Obama’s Final Speech Analysis: A Masterclass in Hope, Courage and Public Speaking
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jan 07, 2017
Why I Disagree with Simon Sinek About Millennials — With Respect
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jan 04, 2017
My son knows my passion for public speaking, so when he pointed me toward a Simon Sinek video, I was excited. I admire Sinek. I’ve learned a great deal from him, but fifteen minutes in, I felt something I didn’t expect: discomfort. Not because he’s wrong about everything, but because his conclusions about millennials felt[…]
Is Vulnerability in Public Speaking Something We Should Fear?
Leadership, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Nov 18, 2016
The brilliant TED Talk, ‘The Power of Vulnerability’ by Brené Brown, offers a simple but profound idea: we are wired for connection and connection requires vulnerability. It challenges the increasingly popular belief that the path to success lies in control, certainty and predictability. Instead, it suggests that the real key to meaningful human connection is[…]
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[…]
The Professionals Guide to Public Speaking & Presenting
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Sep 10, 2016
A new way to speak, connect and inspire in today’s workplace Presenting has become a daily ritual in modern business, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood skills in the workplace. Every day, across every industry, talented professionals step in front of colleagues and clients armed with slides, scripts, and good intentions… but[…]
The Characteristics of Authentic Public Speakers and Presenters
Leadership, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Sep 01, 2016
Authenticity is a word we hear everywhere, in leadership, communication, and culture, yet most people struggle to define what it truly means. Audiences today are more perceptive than ever; they can sense when a speaker is merely performing, hiding, or trying too hard. Conversely, they can also recognise when someone is authentically showing up. So,[…]