Knowing the basic principles of numerical communication can help us become more effective and persuasive communicators. A couple of months ago, I read “Making Numbers Count” by Chip Heath and Karla Starr who observed that we could lose our audience “when we don’t translate numbers into an instinctive human experience.” These translation techniques serve as […]
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How to Create an Engaging Speaker Introduction
Although some may not regard their introduction as a high priority, a good speech introduction has many benefits for a speaker. I’ve recently had several clients who were preparing presentations to deliver this spring, and the topic of their introductions came up. How should they be introduced? What makes a good speaker introduction? My recommendation […]
10 Q & A Strategies for a Successful Presentation
In-person speaking is beginning to come back, so be prepared with these successful Q & A strategies. One of the make-or-break components of a presentation that many clients don’t think much about is the Q & A. For many informational speakers, it is a time in their presentation for audience interaction, to clarify the content […]
3 Top Tips to Help You Engage in Small Talk
As my clients are going back into the office, many are feeling awkward with small talk and in-person meetings and presentations. Small talk is important in our culture. Small talk enables us to quickly build rapport, connect with others, make a positive impression, and build trust. This results in developing and maintaining relationships that are […]
3 Ways to Influence Emotions In Our Audience
As speakers, we need to be intentional about how we use our emotions for influence. I am often asked by clients how they can be more influential with the emotions of their audiences. Some have an ask for their senior leadership, others want their audience to accept a change within their organizational processes or procedures, […]
3 Strategies to Keep You Motivated in the New Year
Staying motivated in our “new” normal requires successful strategies. Prior to the pandemic, our lives were fairly predictable – from how we ran our personal lives to how we worked. Our world became upended early on during the pandemic from not knowing the ramifications of the virus, to how long we were going to have […]