08 Dec The Cult of Colman
Commit to your material. Be excited about sharing your unique approach. And focus on genuinely connecting with your audience. Then speak as often and wherever you can....
01 Dec Stuff Happens
There is no question that stuff will happen when you present. Be ready and expect it. The gracefulness and candor you exhibit when things go awry is critical....
29 Nov Better Call Saul
We recently watched the Season 4 finale of Better Call Saul. While arguing for his reinstatement as an attorney, character Jimmy McGill put down the letter he was reading from his deceased brother Charles. He went “off script” and tearfully described the conflicted, as well as...
17 Nov Seinfeld
Speakers, like comedians, have to work on delivery and content. The more you do, the easier it becomes. Start in low-ante situations, the way Seinfeld performs in comedy clubs to test new material. Introduce a colleague, deliver a lunch-and-learn, or facilitate a panel and watch...
10 Nov Colored Pencils
Pianist Joyce Yang sees music in colors and shapes. She can’t help it; she has synesthesia, a condition where one sense activates another. In Yang’s case, hearing music triggers color. She sees black notes on white paper and her brain processes flashes of silver,...
03 Nov Truly Scary
When speaking, your genuine self is your most persuasive element. Incorporate anecdotes or case studies with specific details. By recalling the actual event, all your senses fire with an inexhaustible source of material....
01 Nov Art and Science
Your content may not be new, but the way you express it can and should be...
20 Oct Owning TED
Julie Cordua is the CEO of THORN, an organization devoted to eliminating child sexual abuse from the internet. Her TED talk is riveting. (Disclaimer: We have trained many of the THORN staff, including Julie, but we did not coach her for this talk.) Julie's delivery was raw and...
13 Oct Field and Foreground
oo often people present as if they're looking at a closeup on a cellphone screen, with one object in focus and everything else a blur. Take the time to establish context and lead the audience to your mountain. Do it with a vivid river or...
06 Oct Ansel’s Bar
Speakers and presenters also need to challenge themselves to improve. Be honest with yourself about the quality of your presentations, and where to sharpen your skills....