Within the space of two weeks I attended two presentations that related to my son, one at his high school and one at a college he was touring. Interestingly, they shared a common theme: speakers who didn't try to connect with the audience. I don't know if this is something that educators usually … [Read more...] about Why is connecting with your audience so important?
Want your audience to love you? Give ’em a break.
This summer, I went on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the American Southwest with my son's Boy Scout troop. I didn't think I'd be learning anything about PowerPoint and presenting on that trip, but as it turned I learned a valuable lesson on the very first day. Scheduled breaks are very … [Read more...] about Want your audience to love you? Give ’em a break.
What’s your Presentation Plan B?
If you've been presenting for any length of time, you've experienced some sort of technical glitch in your presentation. How presenters react to technical glitches is what separates the pros from the noobs! Have a Plan B for when things go south. Here are two examples of real-life presentation … [Read more...] about What’s your Presentation Plan B?
Lawyer vs. Lawyer: A study in public speaking
Public speaking takes many forms, from TED talks to client presentations to teaching and beyond. I recently served on a jury, exposing me to another kind of public speaking: lawyering. A trial lawyer has to be a very good presenter. No matter how skilled he is in matters of the law, no matter how … [Read more...] about Lawyer vs. Lawyer: A study in public speaking
Nobody likes busywork and pointless tasks
Have you ever been assigned a task only to find out afterwards that there was no point to completing it? If you're a marketer or public speaker, you have to avoid the temptation to give your audience busywork disguised as something they need to do. Because when they find out what you've done, … [Read more...] about Nobody likes busywork and pointless tasks
A great presentation is more than just pretty slides
It can be daunting to create a presentation from scratch. Many people start by designing a set of great-looking slides, then developing a script to match. But this is the exact opposite of what you should be doing. You need to start with a strong foundation of ideas and words before you get to the … [Read more...] about A great presentation is more than just pretty slides
The National Scout Jamboree is no place for a political rally
In my work as a presentation consultant, I always tell my clients is that they must consider the wants and needs of their audience. No matter what the goal of the presentation—whether it's to sell, persuade, inspire or teach—it's important that we tailor our speeches for each audience so that they … [Read more...] about The National Scout Jamboree is no place for a political rally
Best. PowerPoint. Ever.
A TED Talk slide deck is the antithesis of Death by PowerPoint. There are few (if any) bullet points, overly complicated slides, and speakers don't narrate what's on screen. Instead, the slides advance automatically behind the speakers and serve to enhance what they're saying, not act as a … [Read more...] about Best. PowerPoint. Ever.