Speech Writing
How to write a speech – Harness the magic of metaphors
I read a fascinating article recently which reminded me of the power of metaphors to make communication more colourful and engaging. It got me thinking about metaphors relating to public speaking and the idea for this post about how to write a speech just popped into my head and wouldn’t go away! A few hours…
Read MoreSpeech Editing – Stop Trying to Squeeze Too Much In
Why Is Speech Editing Critical For Better Presentations? One of the most common mistakes made by business presenters is the tendency to cram too much information into their speech. There seems to be a myth that the more information you present, the more persuasive the presentation will be. But nothing could be further from the truth. …
Read MoreHow to write a funny speech – Part 1
WHY YOU SHOULD LEARN HOW TO WRITE A FUNNY SPEECH Understanding how to deliver a speech well will make you feel good but being able to weave humour into any speech will get you noticed. Today we expect speakers to entertain as well as inform us, so understanding how to write a funny speech is an essential skill for aspiring…
Read MoreThe Benefits of Collaborative Presentation Development
Writing a presentation or speech on your own can be difficult and challenging but it doesn’t need to be. Involving other people can make the task much easier and less daunting along with a host of extra benefits. Let’s take a look at why collaborative presentation development makes sense, and explore various ways to enlist the support of others.
Read MorePublic Speaking Pitfalls – Beware Business Jargon
I don’t know about you, but I find myself becoming increasingly intolerant of speakers and presenters who pepper their presentations with way too much business jargon. Some do it deliberately to show off, but most are unaware that they are even doing it. Beware, business jargon can be useful shorthand, but only if everyone listening understands…
Read MoreAnother Great Presentation Skills Infographic
Despite having said in an earlier post that I am not a great fan of Infographics, I wanted to share a new presentation skills infographic that was sent to me by Clem Lepers, entitled “9 Tips for an effective presentation“. It has some excellent content and tips and is well worth a look if you…
Read MoreIs This the Best Presentation Skills Book You’ll Read This Year?
I hope you can excuse a little piece of shameless self-promotion, but I am delighted to say that my new book, The Presenter’s Edge, is now available globally on Amazon Kindle. It’s the first in a series of bite-sized business books and, as its name suggests, tackles the thorny subject of presenting. Now of course I may…
Read MorePublic Speaking Tips – How to Make a Dull Subject Interesting
Sometimes we have to speak about topics that our audience may initially find boring or dull. Our challenge is how to make a dull subject interesting, relevant and memorable. Recently I heard a presentation on IT for small business owners that pushed all the right buttons. Afterwards, I thought I would share some of the…
Read MoreSpeech Writing Tips – Choosing What to Speak About
Sometimes you are told given a speech topic and other times the choice is left entirely up to you. This latter option can leave people feeling completely stuck. The purpose of this short post is to give you some practical guidance on how to choose the best speech topic of a presentation. The…
Read MoreHow To Write A Good Speech – Write For The Ear Rather Than The Eye
When it comes to learning how to write a good speech, there are many common mistakes that you must learn to avoid. One of the commonest is writing for the eye and not the ear. This probably sounds a little odd, so let me explain what I mean. Most of us spend the majority of our time writing…
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