Kayla Schwartz Presentation, Communication & Writing Coach

I recently worked with six executives from a large company who were preparing for their Investor Day. Each would give a 20-45 minute PowerPoint presentation to a live audience of about 100, with a simultaneous webcast. All of the presenters received from their Investor Relations VP the same general outline of what to cover. Once… Read More »

Do you focus exclusively on the words you utter and not at all on your movements? Are you connecting with your listeners? “Much more of the brain is devoted to movement than to language….and I’m sure this was how people, human beings, first bonded, maybe chanting or dancing around the bonfire when there wasn’t much… Read More »

Don’t want to be too bossy in your presentations? Think again. When you give a presentation, it’s important to tell your audience what you’d like them to do…and why they should do it. Two reasons: From your point of view: You have an agenda…a reason for giving the presentation. Typically you want something of them…. Read More »

Being questioned and questioning others in meetings can feel uncomfortable…but they don’t need to.  There’s a saying that’s a little off-color, but it describes the phenomenon perfectly. “Piece of crap in the center of the universe.” We feel both superior and inferior at the same time and that reflects in our communications with colleagues around… Read More »

Do you have trouble speaking up in meetings? With your friends you are fine, but in a business setting you clam up? I’ve worked with numerous people who experience this phenomenon. Some came from families who rebuffed their opinions so they learned not to offer them. Whatever the root cause, these clients feel scared of… Read More »

Turn your next dinner party into a learning opportunity! What your do naturally at the table can help guide your behavior in business meetings. Think about these components the next time you share a meal with friends, and consider how you might apply them to your next meeting. 1. Tell a story Telling a story… Read More »

We casually send off hundreds of work-related emails each week. However, communicating by email presents some challenges. There are none of the physical or vocal cues of an in-person or telephone conversation to add feeling and context to the content. The tone of our message is not always accurately communicated to the recipient and we… Read More »

When you give a presentation or a speech, do you sound like an author reading from your book or like a person having a conversation? If you chose the former, chances are you are not connecting with your audience as well as you could be. Humans have conversations with each other. We don’t like to… Read More »

I was recently reminded of the importance of the balance between visuals and the spoken word. I led a session for a small group from a very successful boutique branding and design firm. After discussing the content of an effective presentation, they each delivered a sales or progress report presentation. I knew they would blow… Read More »

Would you notice a gorilla in the midst of a basketball game? That’s what participants saw in an experiment mentioned by Manohla Dargis in her article from the New York Times entitled “What You See is What You Get.”  She describes a phenomenom called “Inattentional Blindness.” In terms of film, it’s when we don’t notice… Read More »