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 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »