Inter-Activ Presenting and Influencing » Inspiration

Life lessons from the movies

Gavin Meikle — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 14:36:22 +0000

The Kings Speech

Every so often I watch a film that proves to be a fantastic source of learning and inspiration as well as entertainment.

Recently I saw the Kings speech and it really moved me. Afterwards I started to wonder what it was that made it so powerful.

The acting was superb and believable. The Prince’s frustration with his inability to speak fluently in public was palpable, and this made a wonderful contrast with the closing [...]

Life lessons from the movies is a post from: Inter-Activ Presenting and Influencing

Public speaking – setting free our human voice

Gavin Meikle — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 07:55:17 +0000

As a public speaking and presentation skills trainer I am passionate about helping my clients find their voice and develop the confidence and passion to share their knowledge, opinions, hopes, fears, thoughts and feelings with the world.

I came across this short video via youtube and its simple yet profound message just resonated with me. So much so that I just had to share it with you. I hope it will mean something to you to.

We have [...]

Public speaking – setting free our human voice is a post from: Inter-Activ Presenting and Influencing

Leadership, Music and Presentations – Watch this TED video

Gavin Meikle — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 11:37:28 +0000

I love to watch and share presentation skills tips and especially great examples of passionate presenters.

Today I am indebted to Nancy Duarte of Duarte Design and author of the fantastic new book “Resonate” for drawing my attention to this inspiring presentation. Watch it and enjoy conductor Benjamin Zander’s passion and his command of the audience’s emotions. WOW!

I guarantee you will learn some great presentation skills tips and be entertained and moved.

Now share your thoughts by posting a comment and [...]

Leadership, Music and Presentations – Watch this TED video is a post from: Inter-Activ Presenting and Influencing

Be present to influence, communicate or present well

Gavin Meikle — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 10:20:19 +0000

The art of being fully present in the moment isn't just an esoteric spiritual skill. Its a vital ability that can help you communicate, present and ell more effectively by connecting better with your clients

Be present to influence, communicate or present well is a post from: Inter-Activ Presenting and Influencing

Match the pace to your content – Changing gear in a speech or presentation

Gavin Meikle — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:04:35 +0000

I was particularly impressed with the way Rich matched his energy and pace of delivery to the story he was telling. At the start his pace was slow and measured as he described the rather boring car journey where he was too small to see much out of the car window but clouds. Then, when he arrived at his gran's the pace picked up dramatically as he described zooming into her house (an Aladdin's cave for a five year old boy!) with his arms outstretched behind him pretending to be a plane. The pace stayed high as he described how he explored and played and then slowed a little as he started to describe the other family members present. The pace slowed further as he brought us up to the present day and how things had changed. How his granny wasn't as energetic as she had been, how the food wasn't as home cooked as it had been and so on. This "gear change"change of pace brought a poignancy and a sense of reflection to this speech that worked beautifully and lead us up nicely to Rich's take away message.

Match the pace to your content – Changing gear in a speech or presentation is a post from: Inter-Activ Presenting and Influencing

Impromptu speaking tips – part 2

Gavin Meikle — Thu, 14 May 2009 07:00:02 +0000

In my last post I focused on the delivery side of an impromptu speech but what about the content? How do I stop by brain going blank and running out of things to say?

Well here are two further technique to help you wow your audience ;

Use the PEP model Position – Start by stating your position on the topic – do you agree or disagree? Explain – Now expand on that by explaining why you hold this view. How can you [...]

Impromptu speaking tips – part 2 is a post from: Inter-Activ Presenting and Influencing

Is your thinking holding you back?

Gavin Meikle — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:26:45 +0000

When I was a sales manager I saw a number of potentially great communicators stall despite fantastic subject matter knowledge and great technique. It was no surprise to me that sending them on a skills refresher course didn’t solve the problem as I instinctively knew that the problem lay at the level of identity and believe rather than skill or capability.

On numerous occasions I fought with my colleagues in the training department because they said that you couldn’t do anything [...]

Is your thinking holding you back? is a post from: Inter-Activ Presenting and Influencing

Presentation creativity – How to generate inspiration

Gavin Meikle — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:45:22 +0000

Do you ever have the same problem I have? I bet you do. There you are sitting in front of your computer with blank powerpoint or word template in front of you , a deadline looming and your mind is blank!

Unlocking our creativity and escaping the bind of writers block can be easier than you think – well that has been my experience anyway. In this post I’d like to share a technique I use to get the creative juices [...]

Presentation creativity – How to generate inspiration is a post from: Inter-Activ Presenting and Influencing

Watch this presentation and put your “big ears” on

Gavin Meikle — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 08:05:05 +0000

This video clip serves four purposes for students of presentation and public speaking skills:

It demonstrates the value of a clearly structured message It shows how things like eye contact, body language and vocal variety engage the audience It shows how simple visual aids with well chosen images add to the presentation It contains a valuable message that we all should learn and take heed of.

Enjoy

Watch this presentation and put your “big ears” on is a post from: Inter-Activ Presenting and Influencing

How do we believe in ourselves?

Gavin Meikle — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:46:11 +0000

This post was promopted by a comment made by my wife Lyn after an early morning walk today.

It was a beautiful morning here in the South of Hampshire. The sky was just starting to colour up as the sun rose and the air was crisp and fresh. After a few minutes of silent contemplation we started to chat about anything and everything. In particular we gravitated towards talking about what it is that allows people to have [...]

How do we believe in ourselves? is a post from: Inter-Activ Presenting and Influencing