Presentation Lessons from a Preacher: Joel Osteen As a presentation skills coach I love to talk. That said, I made a decision many years ago that there are two things I would try my very hardest to avoid speaking about in public. Religion and politics Given that I’m neither a theologian nor a politician most[…]
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Presentation Lessons from a Preacher: Joel Osteen
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Apr 29, 2016
It’s your attitude that makes all the difference – especially when presenting
Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Apr 21, 2016
I don’t think many people would argue with the idea that it’s your attitude that makes all the difference in life. Your attitude also makes a huge difference when it comes to public speaking and presenting too, which is often something many people overlook. A mindful presenter has an attitude of: Empathy Imagine the shift[…]
Presenting With Influence: How to Reach Any Audience
Advice, Presentating training, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips Mar 19, 2016
Life is full of great presentation tips. As a child my parents invested enormous energy trying hard to influence so much of my behaviour. At school, it seemed my teachers roles extended way beyond my academic development. They also had a plan to influence my thoughts and behaviour. Even my friends seemed to have their[…]
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:[…]
Presenting With Confidence Starts in the Mind
Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Feb 06, 2016
Presentation skills are no longer a “nice to have.” They are a defining factor in personal and professional success, as the ability to present with confidence is the platform on which we influence, persuade, and inspire others. The days when strong presentation skills were merely useful are long gone; today, they are essential. Despite their[…]
How to Transform the Dreaded Monthly Update Into Something People Actually Want to Hear
Advice Jan 31, 2016
For many professionals, presenting the monthly update feels less like communication and more like a ritual. It’s the last Friday of the month, and everyone sits in the same seats around the same table. The agenda barely changes, and one by one, people go around the room and say largely the same things they[…]
Authenticity is one of the most admired qualities in leadership and public speaking. When someone speaks with honesty and presence, we feel it immediately. It’s refreshing, human and memorable, but authenticity isn’t as simple as “just be yourself.” If only it were Audiences today are highly discerning. They can sense insincerity instantly and disengage the[…]
Who would have thought it possible to ‘wow’ your audience in less than 2 minutes So much has been written about the skill of speaking and presenting in public. I’ve written over 100 articles myself in the last year alone. I’ve written an entire series about the ‘Art and Science of Presenting’, opening, closing, storytelling,[…]
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[…]
For years, something about the monthly meeting I attend at work never sat right. There was a pattern; predictable, familiar, and quietly unproductive. The same people sat in the same seats, month after month, as though the chairs were assigned by invisible ink. Managers delivered long lists of KPIs, most of which had little relevance[…]
Everything in business has changed, except the way many people present. Technology has advanced, markets have shifted, and leadership expectations have evolved, yet the culture of presenting in many organisations remains rooted in the past. This raises a difficult but essential question: Has your organisation kept pace with the times, or are you inadvertently adding[…]
How to Speak With Confidence: 10 Mindset Shifts Every Presenter Needs
Advice, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips Jun 28, 2015
Every presenter faces the same paradox: your greatest enemy is also your greatest ally. The need to communicate with power and impact can quickly become a defining force in your career. One day you’re quietly getting on with your work, and the next you find yourself in entirely new territory: presenting to senior leadership, motivating[…]
Storytelling in business presentations has the power to transform the way we influence others. Every one of us carries stories filled with insight, emotion, and lived experience. Stories that can inspire, persuade, and connect on a level that information alone never will. In a world overflowing with noise and distraction, your audience needs more[…]
Most presenters start preparing by opening their laptops. They begin typing, tweaking, rearranging, and polishing. The presenters who consistently deliver powerful, memorable presentations start from a very different place. They start long before creating the first slide, long before the room fills, long before they stand up to speak. They begin by envisioning. Seeing Success[…]
Most presentations die before they even begin. Not because the content is weak or the speaker lacks confidence, but because the presenter starts in the wrong place. They open a laptop, summon a familiar template, and begin arranging boxes on a slide. It feels productive, even responsible. but it’s the fastest way to drain[…]
Unlocking the Power of Storytelling in Presentations
Advice, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips, Public Speaking, Storytelling Jan 11, 2015
Every great presentation revolves around storytelling. When you share a narrative, you create an emotional connection that captivates your audience’s attention and helps convey your message effectively. The Value of Storytelling Take, for example, the story of your own experiences or those of others, as it can significantly enhance your presentations. Here’s a[…]
Powerful Presentations: The Art of Storytelling
Presentation Skills, Public Speaking, Storytelling Dec 05, 2014
Every great presentation is fundamentally a story. At the age of 60, Diana Nyad embarked on open water training for a 60-hour, 103-mile (166 km) swim from Cuba to Florida—a challenge she had failed to complete thirty years earlier. After 29 hours in the water, strong currents pushed her off course, forcing her to abandon[…]
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[…]
If you face a speech impediment, you know that public speaking can present unique challenges. However, it’s important to remember that many successful speakers have navigated similar experiences and found ways to connect with their audiences. Take, for example, Megan Washington, the ARIA award-winning Australian singer-songwriter. She has openly discussed her struggles with a[…]
The Importance of Feedback in Developing Presentation Skills
Leadership, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Aug 06, 2014
Have you ever received feedback on your presentation skills? To truly develop ourselves as public speakers, presenters, and leaders, one crucial aspect we often need more of is feedback. Reflecting back over 35 years, as a young manager, I thought I knew it all. I was climbing the corporate ladder at an impressive rate; everything[…]
Presenting Without PowerPoint: Lessons from Simon Sinek
Leadership, Mindfulness, PowerPoint, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking, Storytelling Aug 03, 2014
Is PowerPoint the first tool you reach for when called to present? Simon Sinek’s inspirational TED talk, “How Great Leaders Inspire Action,” is a shining example of how effective public speakers can engage and inspire an audience without relying on slides. With 21 million YouTube views, it’s clear why Simon is regarded as a “visionary[…]
The Power of Breath: Elevate Your Public Speaking Skills
Leadership, Mindfulness, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jul 31, 2014
The best presenters understand the power of their breath and know how to harness it to their advantage when speaking. One of the very first lessons in effective public speaking coaching is learning how to breathe properly, especially for those who suffer from public speaking anxiety. Even if nerves aren’t an issue for you, focusing[…]
The Key to Mindful Presenting: Having Clarity of Your ‘M’ POINT
Leadership, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking Jul 24, 2014
The distinction between mediocre and mindful presenting is both real and evident. Mediocre presenters often fall into the trap of unconscious programming, leading to mechanical responses and information overload. Simply presenting everything you know isn’t mindful; it demands a higher level of awareness and consciousness. As human beings, we are hardwired by habit, often[…]
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