“Imagine your audience nude.” Any public speaking coach worth their salt will refrain from giving this age-old advice. In fact, we may never know why some people still think the antidote for fear of public speaking is imagining their audience naked. Many people attribute this advice and practice to Winston Churchill, who was, indeed, [...]
As public speaking coaches, we will share an important presentation and business tip with you (hint: This is how to level up.) Every single pitch is a story—whether you are trying to convince someone to consider a new belief, to invest in your product, or even that your ideas are worthwhile--there’s always an arc [...]
As a public speaking coach, I’ve been told that I have presidential speaking skills. What does this mean? And have you ever wondered what makes presidents historically remarkable speakers? Why do they orate a cut above the rest of us? We know that presidents are masters of inspiration. One look [...]
Practice Makes Performance. The best keynotes and TED Talks we’ve seen have been as entertaining and “sticky” as some of our favorite movies. Same for you? That’s because the most successful presenters and leaders understand that if you want to connect and convert your audience, you need to get them excited. For some [...]
“Becoming present is not just about knowing and affirming your story—it’s also about how you narrate your story. Telling yourself what matters to you is one thing, but equally important is taking control of how you tell your story—to yourself and to others.” — Amy Cuddy, Presence Anyone who has attended a presentation skills [...]
Tax season is here and tax day is upon us. Taxes are basically mind numbing, immense amounts of data that must be interpreted correctly in order to reap the benefits. Misinterpretation or simply ignoring the data leads to fines, penalties and all sorts of painful punishment. Why are we talking about taxes? [...]
You may have heard of an abundance or a growth mindset. You may have even adopted some tactics of business leaders with strong mindsets, such as exercising or working with coaches. But what mindsets combat the fears associated with performances in front of an audience? Similarly to speakers, athletes must bring their ‘A’ game to very public arenas. Track-and-field star Allyson [...]
Living a meaningful life matters, and creating a meaningful presentation that resonates with an audience matters too. Why do you think TED Talks are so popular? Their “ideas worth spreading” tagline embodies the exact definition of meaningful. And, as a result, TED Talks are just that: meaningful. What you have to say–your message–is already meaningful. Your task is [...]
These days, there’s an app for everything. Need to manage your stress? Want to keep track of your workouts? Optimize your vocabulary? You have options. Many options. There’s even The Rock Clock that lets Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson keep you motivated during your daily tasks. Why not harness the power and flexibility of your own mobile device to boost [...]
It’s that time of year: Everyone is getting ready for school to start. Whether you’re currently a student, teacher, parent, or none of the above, going back to school conjures classroom memories for all of us. Book reports, oral presentations–some memories may be more pleasant than others. Talking to a classroom isn’t so different from running a team [...]
