How to be authentic when you speak in public
Why being more authentic leads to speaking success Every time I run a presentation skills workshop I get asked questions like; What is the “right” way to present? Should I use humour? Should I move or stand still? My answer is always the same. “You have to learn how to be authentic.” You see I…
Read MorePrisoners of our own beleifs
In a slight digression from my normal posts, I’d like to share some thoughts about limiting beleifs and how they hold us back from realising our true potential, be that as a presenter, influencer, parent etc. I hope you enjoy this short (5min) audio podcast. Just make sure your speakers are turned on and click…
Read MoreInfluencing Cultural Change in Organisations
I was running an influencing skills workshop earlier this week and part of the course involved a presentation by me on Prof Robert Cialdini’s six principles of influence. (NB: If you haven’t read professor Cialdini’s book on Influence, you really should!) One of the principles is called consensus and it embodies the idea that we are more…
Read MorePowerPoint tip – Cropping pictures in PowerPoint
Recently I have come across a number of clients who didn’t know that you could crop pictures from within PowerPoint, rather than having to use a graphics programme. it’s really simple. Once you have inserted or pasted your picture into your slide, go to the top menu and make sure that the picture toolbar is…
Read MoreA great source of images for your presentations
Many people ask me where I get the pictures I use in my presentations. Well, whilst many of them are my own, I don’t always have the image I need. My first port of call in such a situation is always www.yotophoto.com. This is a user-friendly image search engine that searches lots of online stock photo sites…
Read MoreLeading Your Audience Down The Garden Path
All effective speakers know that they need to take their audience on a journey. A journey from where they are at the start of the presentation, to where they need to be at the end in order to take the presenters desired action. Occasionally you’ll be lucky and your audience will have already bought in…
Read MoreNew Year Presentation Resolutions
Happy New to you all. I was wondering if any of you had applied the principle of setting New Years Resolutions to your Presentation and Public Speaking skills yet. Here are some suggestions that might get you thinking… I resolve to learn how to use PowerPoint effectively so that I don’t bore the pants of…
Read MoreA Great Post On Soporific Speaker Stereo Types
Today I came across a post on a blog called “Eight to Late” by Kailash Awati, an IT development manager in Australia which I loved and so I thought I’d share it with you. “Some weeks ago I sat through yet another presentation that had me drifting into dreamland within minutes. To stay awake, I started to put together a list…
Read MoreChristmas Wishes and a Big Thank You!
As Christmas approaches I’m hanging up my keyboard for a few days and looking forward to a relaxing break. I just want to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas. I hope that whatever you are doing over the holidays you have lots of fun and get a well deserved break. 2008 will be here before we…
Read MoreUsing spacial metaphors to reinforce your messages
Tonight, after the regular Toastmasters meeting, a few of us met in the pub for a pre-Christmas drink and an expected turn in the conversation led me to my topic of this post. It’s all about how you can use your presenting space as a metaphor for some of the concepts you are conveying verbally.…
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