As leaders, how do we or could we do more to invoke and/or develop our empathetic communication skills? Empathy is the heart of effective communication whether you have an audience of one or an audience of many. Empathetic communication builds trust, reduces conflict, productively resolves problems, and increases engagement. The following acronym (SLACK) describes attributes […]
Speaking Tips
How Artificial Intelligence Affects Communication
Artificial Intelligence affects communication in several ways and could be a game changer. One of the biggest advancements in the area of communications was the recent launch of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) bot called ChatGPT. If you are not familiar with this tool, it lets you type in a question, and it will respond with […]
3 Ways Your Numerical Communication Can Be More Memorable
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 […]
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 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, […]