One of the highest compliments you can pay to a speaker is to say he or she is “natural.” But what does that mean? When I think of “natural” speakers, I imagine people who feel relaxed and at ease with themselves up there. Their words flow spontaneously. They are conversational. Their tone, volume and level… Read More »
Do you suffer from “PowerPoint Misuse Syndrome?” That is, using PowerPoint for purposes it was never intended for. PowerPoint was officially released by Microsoft in 1990 as an easy-to-use method for producing visuals for presentations. It allowed people who would not ordinarily choose to use visual aids (note, that visuals are an “aid” to understanding),… Read More »
There’s a great old saying: “Say what you mean, mean what you say, but don’t say it mean.” It may be pithy, but it’s a helpful guide to communication. Say what you mean: This part expresses two related ideas in my mind. Be direct and be clear. In any business or even personal communication, don’t… Read More »
I recently received a link to a blog by renowned and esteemed communications coach T. J. Walker entitled: “How Every Manager Can Eliminate Awful Presentations and Speeches from Employees in 2015”. With his very witty and dry sense of humor, Mr. Walker advises managers to institute a a new policy: instead of sending PowerPoint decks… Read More »
I hope you all enjoyed your holidays and wishing you a healthy, happy 2015. Exhilarating/trying as the holidays can be, we can use them as a learning opportunity. Here are five lessons I learned from the large family/friends gathering I hosted last month, which can help in all communications settings. 1. Be clear when asking… Read More »
This past September marked the 50th anniversary of the famous “Daisy” television ad run by Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1964 presidential campaign. As presenters, we can learn a valuable lesson from the ad. The “Daisy Spot” was created for ad agency Doyle Dane Bernbach by my father, Tony Schwartz. It is considered by many to be… Read More »
When you hear a joke, what do you remember about it? For me it’s the set-up and the punch line. My poor joke telling skills center around having to fudge the middle because I simply can’t remember it. How about a story? I remember the beginning and the ending but please don’t quiz me on… Read More »
I read an article about a lawyer, Bill Alverson, who also coaches (very successfully) pageant contestants for their pageant interviews. Apparently his skill in prepping clients for trial has informed his pageant interview coaching. I liken him to a good branding/presentation coach. I respect his theories on the interview process and I think they can… Read More »
My second grade teacher, a strict and traditional Austrian transplant named Ms. Vriezen, used to tell us 7-year-olds to “stack your bricks” and “keep your hands on the table” when we sat in our chairs. I’m often reminded of those messages when I work with clients. I recently worked with a group of presenters from… Read More »
We each have a unique speech pattern. Some people speak with such a beautiful lilt that they almost sound like they are singing. Their voices rise and fall smoothly as if forming a melody. Other people speak in a monotone, rarely reaching beyond a narrow range of ups and downs. No matter your vocal range,… Read More »