Sir David Attenborough’s Secret
The other evening I was watching the BBC Programme on Climate Change, anchored by veteran broadcaster Sir David Attenborough. Listening to him made me wonder, why is he such successful and authoritative presenter and what can we learn from his style? Well for me there are two key factors. Firstly he is authentic – He…
Read MoreWhat Are You Going To Do Differently in 2007
Yes is now officially 2007 and all the excuses are over! It’s time to put those resolutions into practice. I assume that you are reading this blog at least partially because you want to change something in your life. Either you want to be a more confident presenter and public speaker or you want to…
Read MoreControlling What Your Audience Pay Attention To!
When you are delivering a verbal presentation accompanied by PowerPoint slides, there is a big risk that your audience will be so busy reading your slides that they will miss what you are saying. There are two ways to avoid this major and all too common problem. Put less words on your slides! (Yes you…
Read MoreFree Yourself With a Wireless Remote
If I had a pound for every time I saw a presenter struggle to change their PowerPoint slides using either their laptop keyboard or a wired mouse, I’d be a rich man! The results are usually pretty predicable: The presenter has to stand between the projector and the screen resulting in their slides being projected…
Read MoreHigh-Flying Salesman Earns More Than boss?
I was grabbed by this headline in the Independent yesterday (22/11/06). The article spoke of an unnamed salesperson for Oxford Scientific Instruments who had earned more than his CEO in the last six months by completely blowing away his sales targets. I’m sure that many people reading that article were thinking – Wow! Who is…
Read MoreYour Voice Is Your Image In Sound
Are you “happy” with your speaking voice? Do people “hear” you in the way you want to be heard? Do your messages provoke an emotional response in your audience? These were some of the questions answered at a recent workshop I attended in London, lead by Stewart Pearce, Master of Voice at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.…
Read MoreThe Rule Of Three
Listen to any good speaker and you’ll probably find them using this golden rule time and time again. Even Julius Caesar used it! “I came I saw, I conquered. Simply stated, the rule of three says that three key messages is the optimal number for maximum audience recall. Why three and not four or two…
Read MoreIt’s amazing what you can achieve in just one day:
I ran a presentation skills workshop for two amazing young ladies today. Both were reluctant presenters whose nerves had previously been getting the better of them and and as a result their future career progression was effected. They did three practice presentations over the day and the difference was staggering! One said that she was…
Read MoreDon’t be afraid to break the rules!
I was giving a talk recently and one of the audience members shared with us the story of how he was part of a “dragons den” type even where a number of potential inventors were pitching to venture capitalists.The event was organised by Business Link and all the participants had been coached on how to…
Read MoreThe Power Of Surroundings:
Just home after leading a retreat holoday in Cazorla, Spain. It really is amazing the effect that our environment has on us. Stepping off the treadmil and spending a week amid the nature of rural spain created so much “thinking space” for myself as well as our participants. How does your environment effect you? What…
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