Just about the last place you might turn for inspiration on public speaking might be summer camp. In fact, summer camp is full of experienced speakers who engage with difficult audiences all day long. The job of a camp counselor is to guide kids through the activities at camp; to ensure that their … [Read more...] about How do camp counselors communicate so well?
Smart public speakers show up early
Today I am teaching a group of people how to create dynamic PowerPoint presentations. So I arrived at my client's office at 8:15 and went to the conference room to set up. With the help of the IT guy, I made sure that my Macbook would play nicely with the projector. I set handouts and business cards … [Read more...] about Smart public speakers show up early
Create an awesome Ignite in 6 steps
What if you only had 5 minutes and 20 slides to wow a roomful of people? That's the premise of an Ignite talk. Your slides auto-advance every 15 seconds. That means that you have to choose your words carefully, create slides with a lot of visual impact and be very entertaining. Think of it as an … [Read more...] about Create an awesome Ignite in 6 steps
How to improve your newsletters
Do you publish a newsletter? I hope the answer from all of you is a resounding "YES!" If not, you're missing a great opportunity to speak to your community. If you have a newsletter, here's another question. Does it read like it was composed by the NewsOMatic 3000? Or would somebody reading it … [Read more...] about How to improve your newsletters
5 ways to amp up your presentations
A forgettable presentation is delivered by a low-energy guy. He may fidget or fumble. He reads from his slides in a monotone and expects you to just sit there and listen. He's boring. But some presenters are exciting! What they say sticks with you for years to come. An exciting presenter moves … [Read more...] about 5 ways to amp up your presentations
The BLUF Statement: Your secret PowerPoint weapon
How many presentations have you attended where the presenter took forever to get to the point? I'm betting it's probably quite a few. The problem is that presenters can often be so close to their material that they can clearly see the benefits of what they're talking about and they forget to tell … [Read more...] about The BLUF Statement: Your secret PowerPoint weapon
When somebody plagiarizes your slides
What can you do if somebody uses your slides without your knowledge or permission? It's a valid question, considering that PowerPoint files are regularly exchanged among designers, clients, prospects, coworkers, conference organizers, attendees, etc., etc., etc. At any point the files can be … [Read more...] about When somebody plagiarizes your slides
Hate PowerPoint? Ditch the slides.
Today I persuaded someone not to hire me. And it didn't bother me one bit, because I knew I was doing him a favor. Sometimes we're asked to communicate in ways in which we're not comfortable. When that happens, people can tell you're not at your best. In the case of my client, maybe he really … [Read more...] about Hate PowerPoint? Ditch the slides.