Presentation Skills
Influence lessons courtesy of Greenpeace
Today I’d like to share with you some observations I made after being “caught” by a membership canvasser for GreenPeace. Now normally I must admit that I avoid such uninvited sales pitches but today I voluntarilly chose too listen to their pitch and I have to say I was impressed. So impress in fact that…
Read MoreDeveloping your Vocal Resonance – how to improve the sound of your voice
When thinking about how to improve the sound of your voice, start by asking yourself – Where does my voice come from? This may sound like a strange question, but it is a vital one for presenters and public speakers. Most of us take our voice for granted and yet it is such a powerful…
Read MorePowerpoint design – to stand alone or not to stand alone!
My recent post about a bullet point heavy Web 2.0 presentation on slideshare tickled one of you to write in and say that, although they agreed with me as to how dull and wordy the slides were, they wondered why the presentation was getting lots of hits. Well I think you have to remember that…
Read MoreDealing with nervous gestures
How often have you been irritated by a speakers random movements and mannerisms. Typical ones that annoy me include rocking back and forward, restless pacing, clicking the button of a ball point pen, or playing with hair. I used to have a bad habit of tugging at my shirt sleeves and also rubbing my nose…
Read MorePresentation Tips – Engaging your audience
I regularly get asked how speakers can improve their ability to engage with their audience and hold their attention. Given the number of dull boring and apparently pointless presentations I have had to sit through this is no great surprise, I am often complimented in my ability to quickly engage my audience so today I’ll…
Read MoreLearn to centre yourself for the perfect presentation
People are always asking me how I manage my nerves and come across as confident and fluent under almost any situation. Well I am not entirely sure but I believe that part of the answer lies in being able to quickly access a resourceful internal state. By state I mean the neurophysiological gestalt or felt…
Read MorePowerpoint doesn’t have to be like this!
I came across this presentation from an Analyst at Morgan Stanley and it epitomises everything that is wrong with the way most people use PowerPoint. Honestly! it doesn’t have to be like this. Don’t deluge your audience with data. These slides are so busy that after a couple you just want to give up. I’m…
Read MoreModelling yourself at your presentation and public speaking best
As an unashamed NLP fan, I have always been interested in the idea that we can learn much from modelling success in others but what about ourselves? Modelling in NLP terms is the process of identifying a model or exemplar of excellence and then seeking to identify what are the critical patterns of behaviour AND…
Read MoreInfluencing secrets – Tell your audience what you want them to do!
I spent some time in George Best International airport in Belfast recently coming back from a fundraising workshop with the charity Concern Worldwide UK When I entered the airport departure lounge I saw the usual television screens with departure and arrival information but I also saw something I had never seen before… Normally, when your…
Read MoreHow to project more authority
I often get asked for tips to help people who have to deal with more senior people. One of the most common questions in this area is how do I project authority and credibility. One powerful way to do this is to simply focus on keep your head still when you speak! Sounds crazy I…
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