What should you say in a 1 minute elevator pitch?
Recently I posted video about the importance of first impressions both in short networking introductions and in longer presentations. Today I’d like to focus in on the typical 1 minute introductions you get at a Networking group. This is your chance to showcase your business and educate your fellow networkers on what you do so…
Read MoreTips for improving the first impressions you create
First impressions really do count, whether you are making a full blown presentation complete with PowerPoint , or you just speaking informally to clients, colleagues or networking group members. You probably spend enough time preparing your content but do you spend enough time thinking about your delivery? Whilst I see and hear some outstanding elevator pitches ,…
Read MoreWhat can a horse teach us about presenting better?
Today I went on a Horse Whispering taster day with Debby Reilly from Understanding Equus and Lynne Ewer-Carrington from Challenge Manager. To be honest I went because I was both curious and sceptical about what I could learn from a “horse trainer” but by the end of the day I was convinced. So what did…
Read MoreIf you want to be good at sales, you need to learn how to present
In my book, presentation skills and selling skills go hand and hand. The principles of effective selling will help you to produce powerful persuasive presentation and the principles of great presenting will help you sell much better face to face. Almost every type of presentation is about persuasion. You want your audience to do something…
Read MoreHow to write a speech quickly
When I ask people why they don’t like speaking in public two of the commonest answers is that either they don’t know how to write a speech quickly or that they don’t have the time to write it. So here is the solution. Just follow this fast, foolproof process, and you’ll be surprised how quickly…
Read MoreDon’t underestimate the power of storytelling in business and education
Stories are incredibly important tools for communicating all sorts of information. I have been an “unconscious” story collector now for many years and as a trainer, these stories have been incredibly helpful to my participants in bringing the material I teach to life. To be honest I tend to take them for granted because I…
Read MorePresence and the power of alignment – part 3
In part 2 I outlined a step by step exercise to allow you to “walk up” the logical to help create internal alignment and in turn enhance “stage presence”. Here in the final part of this article I will explain how, having “walked up” the levels from Environment through Behaviour, Capability and Beliefs to Identity, you can…
Read MoreStage Presence and the Power of Alignment – part 2
In part 1 of this article, I introduced you to Dilts’ Logical Levels model and suggested that it could be used as a tool to help you create internal alignment and in turn enhance “stage presence”. So here is how you do it. Start by getting five pieces of paper and labelling each piece with a…
Read MoreStage Presence and the power of alignment – part 1
Have you ever wondered how you could develop the kind of magnetic “stage presence” that the best presenters have? From my research, one of the most important components of stage presence is inner alignment, also called internal congruence. I believe that how someone appears on the outside is a direct reflection of their degree of…
Read MoreDare to be different with your presentation opening!
Successful presentations and speeches need to hook the audience’s attention in the first few seconds. Despite this being obvious, I am constantly shocked by at the number of people who ignore this principle. Instead, they start their presentations by giving their name and their credentials. Despite this being obvious, I am constantly shocked by…
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