As speakers, practicing gratitude can strengthen your overall communication. Probably because Thanksgiving occurs at the end of this month, we often associate this month with gratitude. I would venture to say that most of us are more attuned and likely aware of the benefits of gratitude. However, there are a range of lesser-known benefits that […]
audience engagement
5 Ways Pauses in Speech Create Impactful Presentations
Utilizing pauses in speech can create a deeper connection with your audience. At a recent speaking event, I was conversing with an audience member before I took the stage, and the concept of “ma” came up. What is “ma”? No, it’s not another word for your mom. It’s a Japanese concept that translates to “pause”, […]
How Vulnerability Can Make You a Better Speaker
Transform into a more compelling, relatable speaker by being vulnerable. I recently worked with a client on crafting a presentation for her organization’s internal conference. She had a compelling story she wanted to share, yet wondered how much detail she should share. The question that arose was how vulnerable is too vulnerable? When does sharing […]
5 Tips to Make Your Presentation Memorable
When you make your presentation memorable you keep your audience engaged. In a recent conversation with a meeting planner, she asked me about the ‘take-home’ message in my presentation. What will the audience remember when they leave my session? Quickly, I rattled off the phrase: ‘consciously connecting through communication’. I like alliteration, so I intentionally […]
3 Ways the ‘Less is More’ Approach Works in Presentations
Like some of my clients, I can get lost in how much content I need to provide. Then I remember the ‘less is more’ approach. Although my first impulse in developing content for a presentation is to share as much as possible about a particular topic, it is not the best route for an engaging […]
3 Ways to Speak with Power
When you speak with power, you engage your audience while elevating your confidence. Over the past several months, I have worked with several clients who were looking to speak with more confidence. Jonah Berger’s most recent book, Magic Words: What to Say to Get Your Way, calls this ‘speaking with power’. Our use of language […]