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[…]
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Public Speaking category
Presentation mistakes to avoid when presenting to the boss
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jan 13, 2019
Presenting ‘Christmas Presence’ – A Year-Round Gift for Presenters
General, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Dec 22, 2018
It’s Christmas Eve and many of us are focused on presents rather than presence. At this time of year once the frenzy is over, the gifts are wrapped and the the chaos abates, we get to slow down and calm down. Liberated from the maelstrom of over indulgence, spending and preparing, we begin to regain[…]
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[…]
Please Make Me Feel Something: The New Imperative in Business Presenting
General, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Nov 04, 2018
Business presentations have never been more common or more challenging. Every day, millions of professionals stand before colleagues and clients to share ideas, insights, and recommendations. Every day, many of them wrestle with the same uncomfortable truth: You can’t simply turn up and read your slides anymore That era is over. Audiences expect more,[…]
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[…]
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[…]
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. The uncertainty of Brexit has left many of us in the UK dismayed, disillusioned and divided. Politicians and punters everywehere are telling us what to think about Brexit. That’s why as a public speaking coach I found Theresa May’s[…]
7 lessons from Barack Obama that will make you a better presenter
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips, Public Speaking Sep 16, 2018
Former President Barack Obama is noted for his public speaking excellence. His speeches have changed the way countless people communicate. He is regarded as one of the worlds most gifted and powerful orators today. His speech to more than a thousand students at the University of Illinois-Urbana was charged with public speaking lessons for all[…]
Presence: The Quiet Power That Transforms Business Presenting
Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Aug 19, 2018
Presence is the crown jewel of high-impact presenting, the rare quality that enables a speaker to communicate with clarity, confidence, and creative ease. If it could be bottled, someone would be unimaginably wealthy, and yet, despite its allure, presence remains one of the greatest sources of anxiety for professionals everywhere. We know we need it,[…]
The Zest Factor: The Energy That Separates Ordinary Presenters from Unforgettable Ones
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Aug 05, 2018
Many business presentations today leave audiences feeling exactly the way many people feel when they wake up on a grey Monday morning: tired, vacant, and already depleted. You sit through slide after slide, data point after data point, and walk back to your desk or your car not energised, but groggy. It’s astonishing how rarely[…]
Has Business Presenting Really Changed? The Surprising Truth
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jul 24, 2018
We live in an age defined by relentless transformation. In just three decades, we’ve witnessed breakthroughs that once belonged to science fiction — the rise of the internet, Wi‑Fi, email, MRI technology, DNA testing, non‑invasive surgery, GPS, ATMs, wind turbines, biofuels, and social platforms that have rewritten how we communicate and connect. And even[…]
Say YES to Yourself: The Hidden Psychology of Confident Presenting
Anxiety, Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jul 22, 2018
Every meaningful presentation starts long before you speak. It begins in the quiet, private moment when you decide whether to step forward or step back. A moment defined by one small but transformative word: YES. Yes, to being seen. Yes, to trusting your own voice and yes to believing that what you have to say[…]
Have you given your presentation an X ray to find the gold?
Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jul 17, 2018
Being on the receiving end of a bad presentation is akin to the feelings associated with breaking a bone in your body. – Your frustration begins to swell and your patience is bruised – You experience a loss of function – your ability to concentrate – The pain gets worse the longer the presenter[…]
The most important word in public speaking and presenting is: W – Why
Anxiety, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jun 24, 2018
Are you clear on your message? Public speaking and presenting at work isn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination. Most people would rather do anything else than stand to speak in front of the public, clients or colleagues. If it happens to be something that you enjoy and look forward to, congratulations. The National[…]
STORIES – The Key to High Impact Presenting
Presentation Skills, Public Speaking, Storytelling May 13, 2018
Stories are the key to a high impact business presenting. They are the jewel in the crown of public speaking. Stories are the most powerful route to connecting emotionally with an audience. Whether you are looking to lead change, inspire action or unify a team, you have to tell them a story worth getting behind.[…]
Mindful Presenting – 9 Ways to RESPECT your Audience
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Apr 08, 2018
The first commandment of mindful presenting is, to respect your audience. The most precious resource we all have, is of course time. Each time we present we are using peoples most valuable asset, time. We live in such a fast-paced world with so many demands on our time that we scarcely find moments to value[…]
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[…]
Stephen Hawking – The A to Z of Mindful Presenting: O – Original
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Mar 17, 2018
Stephen Hawking is a name that will be remembered for an extraordinarily long time to come. A British cosmologist and physicist loved, admired and respected all over the world for his notable scientific work was also a brilliant public speaker. World class public speaking is normally associated with political leaders or motivational speakers Last week[…]
Signal Over Noise: The Mindful Way to Present
Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Mar 03, 2018
We live in an age defined by noise. Most of us are jolted awake each morning not by sunlight or intention, but by the shrill insistence of an alarm. Before our feet touch the floor, many of us have already reached for our phones to check what we missed: messages, notifications, headlines, and opinions.[…]
The Mindful Presenter: Why Awareness, Not Slides, Is the Future of Communication
Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Feb 18, 2018
Mindfulness in presenting has nothing to do with incense, lotus positions, or forcing your mind into silence. It isn’t an escape from thought; it’s a return to presence. At its core, mindfulness is the art of connection: first with yourself, then with the people and world around you. Most professionals see mindfulness as separate from[…]
Donald Trump’s State of the Union: Public speaking progress?
Communication Skills, Leadership, Public Speaking Feb 03, 2018
Donald Trump the 45th President of the United States gave his first State of the Union Address this week. As a public speaking coach with far more of a passion for what we can all learn from the rhetoric of world leaders than their politics I find myself called to tune into them. I believe[…]
What You Reveal About Your Leadership Every Time You Speak
Communication Skills, Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jan 28, 2018
Leadership isn’t something you turn on when you enter a meeting room or when someone gives you a title. Instead, it is revealed consistently, quietly, and often unintentionally through the way you communicate. Every conversation shows something about who you are, what you value, and how you influence the world around you. In a[…]
Every Presentation Is a Conversation — And Kindness Is the Most Powerful Tool You Have
Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jan 22, 2018
Every presentation starts long before you speak. It begins with the intention you bring into the room, and when that intention is kindness, kindness towards yourself and towards the people you’re speaking with, everything about the experience changes. Imagine the impact you could have on your audience, and on yourself, if kindness was the foundation[…]
Your Audience Isn’t Listening for Information — They’re Waiting for a Journey
Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jan 15, 2018
When you walk into the office on a Monday morning, and your boss says, “Don’t take your coat off, we’re going straight out,” your mind immediately searches for clarity. Where are we going? Why are we going there? How are we getting there? Your audience feels exactly the same way the moment they sit down[…]
Oprah Winfrey: Public Speaking at its Finest: I – Inspire
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking, Storytelling Jan 08, 2018
Oprah Winfrey delivered a stunning speech whilst accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement at the Golden Globes. It was a speech which touched the hearts and minds of her entire audience, bringing them all to their feet in unified applause. There is so much to learn from Oprah Winfrey during this extraordinary[…]
Why Presenters Develop Bad Habits — And What They’re Really Trying to Tell Us
Anxiety, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Dec 28, 2017
Most presenters assume their bad habits are technical flaws: speaking too fast, fidgeting, pacing, saying “um”, hiding their hands, and reading slides. These behaviours aren’t signs of poor skill or lack of discipline. They are often unconscious self-protection responses, the nervous system’s way of creating safety when we feel exposed. Presenting doesn’t just reveal[…]
The Secret to Confident Presenting: Meet Your Audience’s Human Needs
Leadership, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Dec 19, 2017
If public speaking or even the thought of presenting your ideas at work fills you with dread, you are not alone. Some of the most intelligent, creative, and capable professionals lose sleep over presentations. We feel exposed when we present. Even when we know our topic, our minds often flood with paralysing what-ifs, but[…]
It’s Time to Stop Presenting. Start Connecting
Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Nov 11, 2017
Before each presentation skills training or public speaking coaching session we lead at Mindful Presenter, we ask every client one deceptively simple question: “What do you want your audience to feel?” The most common responses are predictable: informed, engaged, interested, but at Mindful Presenter, we believe that’s far from enough. No presenter, regardless of[…]
The Power of Presentation Brevity: Why Less Will Always Be More
Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Nov 04, 2017
Conciseness in presentations is no longer just a stylistic choice; it is a vital discipline for anyone aiming to maintain an audience’s attention, interest, and respect. A few years ago, I wrote an article titled ‘Why Most Business Presentations Are Twice as Long as They Need to Be’. That message is even more urgent[…]
Acres of diamonds is a powerful story for presenters
Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Oct 28, 2017
Acres of diamonds ‘Acres of Diamonds’ is a story by Russell Conwell about an African farmer who heard tales of other farmers who had made fortunes discovering diamond mines on their own land. The story explains that the farmer sold his farm and spent the rest of his life searching unsuccessfully for diamonds across Africa.[…]
