3 days agoMember-onlyShould You Stand On a Podium Or At a Lectern When You Present?The answer is yes and no. It’s complicated. Here are my two cents … While on a most glorious summer vacation in Puerto Rico with my family and my very very best friend and her family, I recall a resort team member saying to me “You must be from the…Presentations6 min read
Aug 8Member-onlyWhen You Give Your All and Your Audience Gives You NothingIt can be the most uncomfortable feeling to pour into your listeners and get nothing in return. Here’s what’s happening and how to fix things if you have indeed done something wrong. I witnessed the nicest grandmother ever while en route to New York City in late June of 2022…Presentations5 min read
Aug 1Member-onlyHelp! I’ve Lost My Train of Thought!When you’re in the moment, exploring a tangential thought or an audience member’s question, you can easily forget what you were going to say next in your presentation. Use these three tips to get back on track. “Clumsy” should be my middle name. And I love how my super-cool husband…Presentations5 min read
Jul 25Member-onlyWhat to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do When You Have A Lot to Do in Your PresentationAudiences love a carefully choreographed presentation, but not so fast! As you work to trim your speech to match the objectives and fit in the time allotted, don’t throw out all that great content. Last week, I shared strategies on how to ensure you do not find yourself in a…Speakers4 min read
Jul 18Member-onlyTalking Fast + Saying A Lot ≠ Happy AudiencesYou’ve likely heard a speaker say “We don’t have a lot of time, so I’m going to talk really fast.” However, no one benefits from this tactic. Here’s what to do instead. I get it. You have a lot to cover, and you’re limited on time. You feel as though…Presentations4 min read
Jul 11Member-onlyNever Ask Your Audience “Are There Any Questions?”The answer is almost always “no.” Here’s what to ask instead … No one responds to “Are there any questions?” because it is not a question with a modern design necessary to motivate a modern-day audience to provide a response. In the spirit of…Presentations4 min read
Jul 4Member-onlyYour Presentations May Confuse Audiences Without You Even Realizing ItThroughout your presentation, give a preview, review, and a big view to keep confusion at a minimum and learning at a 10. I knew how to drive at the age 12. True story. I grew up in a rural environment, so going out for a drive in the red GMC…Presentations5 min read
Jun 27Member-onlyWhen You Have a Presentation Formula, You Can Be Pretty Darn FabulousIt can be hard to figure out where to begin a presentation. When you have a roadmap, though, you know how to get started, and you know exactly where to go. From mid-April until late June of 2022, our household was plagued with having…Presentation Skills6 min read
Jun 20Member-onlyYour Audiences Do Not Want to Hear Your BioIt’s tough to swallow, but it’s a dose of truth serum. Reading your bio adds no value to your presentation. Here’s what to do instead … It’s a standard to which we’ve become accustomed — a moderator reads the speaker’s bio in an effort to get the audience hyped and…Presentation Tips5 min read
Jun 13Member-onlyAre Your Presentations Filled with Problems or Priorities?What you focus on in your presentation is what will get your audience’s attention. Spend more time focused on solutions than anything else. As I’m sure is the case with you, traveling — especially air travel — brings out all kinds of emotions and experiences. And true to form, one…Presentations8 min read
