Five years after the COVID lockdown, I still see a lot of problems in Zoom and Teams meetings. So here are three quick virtual presentation tips to address some of the biggest issues I see. But first, a story. We Should Know Better by Now When the world went into COVID lockdown in March 2020, … Read more
In my last post I talked about the power of personal stories to captivate and compel the people you most need to influence. These are stories drawn from your own experience. Stories that will resonate with your audience because they actually resonate with you. I also offered a simple process for “auditing” your experience to build … Read more
There’s a right way and a wrong way to practice your presentation. Sadly, I’ve found the wrong way is the most common approach: sitting in front of the computer and tabbing through the slides in silence. If it’s important (and if it’s not important, why do it?), it’s worth spending the time to do it … Read more
Years ago I attended a presentation at work when I noticed the person next to me was making little tally marks on his notepad. By the end of the meeting he got up to 17. Afterwards I asked him what he was doing. He said he was counting the number of times the speaker used … Read more
“I don’t really have to prepare — it’s just a panel discussion.” How often have you heard that? But a panel discussion is about more than just showing up and answering questions. In some ways it’s more complex than a regular presentation, with less control and more variables. So here are some tips on how … Read more
It’s been said many times that 93% of communication is nonverbal. Guess what? It’s a myth. In fact it’s the mother of all body language myths! And a harmful one at that, especially when it comes to presentations. Because it causes people to tie themselves into knots trying to maneuver their various limbs into some … Read more
Love them or hate them, group presentations are more complicated than going solo. So here are my tips for a more seamless, effective experience.
From the television show “The Office” comes a valuable lesson on how to use PowerPoint. Bottom line: don’t be a presentation tool!
Beyond compelling content and fluid delivery, your #1 job as a speaker is to finish your presentation on time.
Public speaking can be nerve-wracking enough, but presenting as a group adds a whole new level of anxiety to the process. And when the presentation is a new business pitch, that really raises the stakes. Organizing a group presentation can be like herding cats, only with less focus and discipline. But it doesn’t have to be … Read more