Two simple words can undermine your messages and set people up to think less of what you're saying. Yet people use these filler words all the time. The Two Words The two words are "I/I'm" and "just." As in "I just want to say that…""I just thought that…""I'm just a…" Whenever I hear people … [Read more...] about Two filler words that damage your credibility
Are you an Erudite, an Evangelist, or an Enthusiast?
My son is wild about Teslas! He can't afford to buy one (yet), so he wastes no opportunity to tell me how great they are and how I NEED to get one (so he can drive it). To help me to arrive at the correct decision, he's accompanied me to an Auto Innovation show, the Tesla store, and an Electric … [Read more...] about Are you an Erudite, an Evangelist, or an Enthusiast?
Top 3 ways to help people remember what you told them
Over time, people forget what they've learned unless they consciously review it. So if you want your audiences to remember what they learned, you need to make it easy for them. Here's how to help people remember what you told them during your presentations long after the fact! The science behind … [Read more...] about Top 3 ways to help people remember what you told them
Breaking away from the Engineer’s Sine Wave
I joined Toastmasters in 2013 to improve my public speaking. In the past seven years, I've learned a lot about being aware the many aspects of vocal variety. Using skills I've learned at Toastmasters, I make an effort to adjust the pitch, speed, and tone of my voice to keep my audiences engaged. So … [Read more...] about Breaking away from the Engineer’s Sine Wave
A little audience research goes a long way
In 2016, Massachusetts citizens voted to legalize recreational marijuana use for adults aged 21 and older. But not everybody is welcoming the cannabis industry with open arms. Last night, a businessman who wants to open a retail shop and growing operation in my small Central Massachusetts town … [Read more...] about A little audience research goes a long way
Think your presentation’s awesome? Get some feedback.
At the last minute, I signed up to be a speaker for a recent meeting of my Toastmasters club. To make it easy on myself, I decided to present an excerpt from a tried-and-true presentation I’d given many times before. What I didn’t expect was to receive feedback that would make my speech even … [Read more...] about Think your presentation’s awesome? Get some feedback.
Bad at public speaking? Not a problem!
On September 28, Elon Musk contradicted everything I've ever learned about public speaking. He stuttered, looked nervous, went off on tangents, and forgot where his slides were. But guess what? He gave a great presentation! Mr. Musk spoke at an event that was being held at a SpaceX launch site in … [Read more...] about Bad at public speaking? Not a problem!
It’s the audience, stupid!
Sometimes my philosophy on presentation design can apply to real life situations. At a recent public meeting, I witnessed firsthand the benefits of making a presentation less about one's self and more about the audience. The people’s forum Here in New England, town meetings form the foundation … [Read more...] about It’s the audience, stupid!