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QuickBites: How to Use Transitions So Your Audience Can Follow You Throughout Your Presentations
Does it drive you crazy when the car in front of you takes an abrupt turn without using a turn signal? If you’re like most people, it does.
Why couldn’t they turn on the signal? The lever’s right there. It’s incredibly easy to use. And for something so simple, it provides a significant benefit to them and the people behind them.
And what about you? Do you use your turn signals? Tune in and learn how to use transitions so your audiences follow you throughout your presentations.
How Vocal Variety Adds Color to Your Presentations with Madonna Hanna
Richard Strauss once said, “The human voice is the most beautiful instrument of all, but it is the most difficult to play.” How well do you play this wonderful gift you have?
Do you vary your pace? Do you alter your pitch? How about your tone and volume?
If you’re not sure you’re including enough vocal variety or if you’re using it to its greatest advantage, listen in as Madonna Hanna shares tips and ideas that will add color to your presentations, making them more engaging and compelling.
QuickBites: How to Know If You Connected with Your Audience
One of the questions I get asked often is, “How do I know my presentation connected with the audience?” That’s a fair question because just about every speaker is curious, if not eager, to know if they served their audience well.
Here’s what I tell them. First, listen to the subject of their comments. If it’s about you, you probably didn’t achieve your objective. If it’s about themselves, it’s more than likely that you nailed it! Sounds counterintuitive, doesn’t it? Please stick with me while I explain.
Tune in to this quick episode and learn an easy way to know if you served your audience or not.
Learning the Fundamentals So You Can Motivate and Inspire with Darrell Williams
The mission of basic training is to motivate, train, and inspire the generation of service men and women. And in that spirit, who better to discuss the basics of public speaking than a veteran of both the service and the White House communication Agency.
In this episode, Darrell Williams, a man who served his country and now his fellow citizens, covers fundamentals that help you serve your audiences.
QuickBites: How to Meet Your Audience Where They Are
What do you do if your energy level and that of your audience are different? Do you try to force them from their sluggish state or go to where they are and raise their energy level as you progress through your presentation? The latter may be the correct answer, but the former might be implemented more often.
In this episode, you’ll learn how to ramp up an audience’s energy and enthusiasm so you can engage them and deliver the takeaway you had intended.
How to Use Media Exposure to Get More Gigs with Dr. Rosann Capanna-Hodge
As a speaker, you want to get more gigs, especially higher-paying gigs, so you can share your message with more people. To accomplish this, you need to market yourself, your expertise, and the result your message provides.
Perhaps the most cost-effective way to get in front of your target audience is to be covered in the media. And media coverage delivers an extraordinarily high level of authority, credibility, and trust.
That’s why I’m thrilled to have with us today Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge. She is going to share ideas on getting media coverage and how it can help you achieve your goals.
QuickBites: How to Breathe Life Into Your Presentations
Have you ever been in a car, singing along with your favorite singer, only to run out of breath as she continues to hold a note for a seemingly impossibly long time? How do they do that? They learn to breathe!
Listen in, and learn how you can breathe life into your presentations.
Why Connecting Is Essential with Michelle Tillis Lederman
No matter how thought-provoking your message, and no matter how well you deliver that message … if you aren’t connected to it, your presentation may not be as well received — nor as effective — as you would like. And that’s why the topic for this episode is connecting. And who better to discuss this with you but a veteran speaker who’s also an expert on connecting.
Listen in as Michelle Tillis Lederman shares why connecting is essential to your being a more compelling, more engaging speaker.
QuickBites: How Stating a Problem Positions Your Solution
Whether we’re delivering motivational talks, presenting to corporations and organizations, or speaking on other occasions, we, as speakers, often deliver solutions. That’s precisely what we’re supposed to do, right? Well, if the situation calls for providing solutions, then yes, that’s right … ah … that’s half right.
Why is it only half right? Well, a solution is only half of an equation. The other half is the problem. And, all too often, we proudly provide solutions but don’t state the problems. In fact, not establishing a problem before providing a solution is one of the reasons that so many presentations – as well-delivered as they may be – ultimately do not serve the audiences.
Listen to the episode and learn how you can craft presentations that serve your audiences more effectively.
Yes Millennials Can Be Empowered to Be Engaging Speakers with Tiffany Foote
Every generation has characteristics associated with it — accurate or not. And millennials are no exception. Of course some traits are the same in every generation, and some differ due to circumstances, trends, and their environment. So when it comes to speaking to audiences of millennials, or even more so, having them present, we have to adjust our thinking. To help us with that is today’s guest, Tiffany Foote.
QuickBites: How to Craft Compelling Conclusions
“A speech is like a love affair. Any fool can start one, but it requires considerable skill to end it.” – Anonymous
That quote is a favorite of mine because it’s both catchy and on target. All too often people let their otherwise engaging presentations come to an unexciting and uninspiring end. Tune in and learn how you can end your presentations in a way that makes a difference in the minds and lives of others.
Facilitating Trainings – Be the Best of the Best with Tina Clements
Facilitating a seminar or workshop is indeed a form of public speaking. And just like any other kind of presenting, it requires its own set of skills. When organizations look to hire an instructor, they often look for those who know the science of facilitation, but only hire those who know how to use the science in an artful way. This, my friend, is the secret recipe for the ideal and best of the best. In this episode, Tina Clements shares this artful approach and how you can be the best of the best.
QuickBites: The Number One Ingredient in Business Stories That Captivate
Do you want your stories to be more captivating? Do you want your listeners to be engrossed, waiting and wondering how your story is going to end? If so, you want to include in your stories one vital element – conflict.
Conflict isn’t the only element necessary in compelling stories, but it is the one many people leave out. Conflict creates interest. It interrupts an otherwise smooth progression. Without conflict, your stories are boring.
Use Your Voice to Captivate the Room with Tracy Goodwin
Is your voice helping you communicate with clarity? Is it helping you influence and persuade? Is it helping you significantly increase your financial success? Is it helping you connect with people, or is doing just the opposite. If your voice is not doing what you needed to, or if you’re just not sure what it does, listening as Tracy Goodwin shares how to step into the power of your natural voice so you amplify your authority and captivate the room.
QuickBites: Immediately Grab Your Audience’s Attention
As a public speaker, whether you are speaking in a meeting or on stage, you, too, need to grab your audience’s attention right at the start. Why? There are several reasons, but the greatest one is that if you don’t grab your listeners’ attention from the beginning, you will have to work especially hard to get them engaged. You might be able to accomplish this, but it is not easy.
Understanding Confidence, Competence, Charisma, and Authenticity with Evelyne Brink
You might not be able to define it, but you certainly know when someone has it! What am I talking about? Confidence. Competence. Charisma. Authenticity. That certain something. That je ne sais quoi! Most of believe that those who have it were born with it. Well, if you believe that, then you want to listen is as my guest, Evelyne Brink, talks about these characteristics and how you can develop them.
QuickBites: Go from Lackluster to Powerful Q & A Sessions
Many speakers give little thought to Q & A sessions … and that’s unfortunate because what’s often looked at as an inconsequential way to end a presentation could be viewed as a significant opportunity to clarify and share more ideas.
In this short episode, you’re going to learn several tips about how you can make your Q & A sessions much more productive, which, in turn, will make your presentations that include Q & A much more compelling and effective.
The Ever-Changing World of Public Speaking with Rael Bricker
The world of public speaking has continuously evolved over time, and probably never substantially in as short a period of time as it has during the pandemic. So, it’s no surprise that many professional and aspiring speakers are wondering how to be most effective. And that is exactly what Rael Bricker, a certified speaking professional, is going to help you figure out.
QuickBites: The Secret to Having Confidence in Yourself and Your Presentations
Do you want to have more confidence in yourself and your presentations? You can! Listen in to this QuickBites episode (less than 5 minutes) and learn the secret. When you do, you’ll be as confident as a bird landing on a branch.
Hack Your Fear of Public Speaking with Mike Acker
The fear of public speaking is so pervasive that many, if not most, books on pubic speaking include a chapter on the subject. But Mike Acker’s book, Speak with No Fear, is different. It focuses only on the fear of public speaking and how to move beyond it so you can accomplish what you want in life, even if it’s not standing in front of an audience.
Listen in as Mike shares ideas and techniques that help you overcome the fear that’s holding you back.
QuickBites: Proper Preparation Ensures Better Engagement
What do you think about preparation? Well, I don’t know about you, but I wasn’t a fan. Why? Oh, let me count the ways …
- It’s time consuming … I have a lot to do, and preparation for those things takes up precious time.
- It’s not fun … Let’s face it. It can be pretty boring.
- It’s not the sexy part of anything, especially public speaking … I want to get to the exciting part of things, and preparation just isn’t it!
I remember exactly where I was when I first heard …
Achieve More with the Five Fs with John Davis
You may ask yourself what a former stuntman, fight director, college professor, and motivational speaker can do for you. Ok, you’ll probably never ask yourself that question, but you do want to know the answer.
My guest in this episode, John Davis, speaks to companies all over the world, empowering their teams to awaken their “inner action hero” so they can achieve more. He does this using his Five-F approach, which hacks the fight or flight response.
QuickBites: Am I Supposed to Memorize My Presentation?
I can’t count how many times I’ve been asked, “Am I supposed to memorize my presentation?”
My standard — and slightly confusing — answer is, “No … and yes … but mostly no.”
Let me explain. Memorizing your entire presentation is not recommended, nor is it reasonable because …
Tips for Speaking on Stage and on TV with Stephen Brooks
If speaking in public is the greatest fear, then speaking on TV must be off the charts. I have seen many experienced speakers freeze when that little red light comes on. Heck, many years ago, it happened to me. It was my first time on TV. I was a guest on a Miami morning show. I didn’t necessarily freeze, but let’s just say it wasn’t be best public appearance.
If you have this problem, that’s okay. My guest, Stephen Brooks, is here to help bridge the gap between speaking on stage and speaking on TV.
QuickBites: How to Enunciate to Engage Your Audience Better
A key tenet of sales is to make it easy for your prospective customers to buy from you. Making the process too convoluted, it’s believed, increases the likelihood that they buyer will become confused or frustrated and ultimately opt out of the buying process.
The same is true when it comes to public speaking. If we, as speakers, confuse or frustrate our listeners, they won’t buy what we’re selling – be it a product, service, or message.
However, many of us unknowingly make it difficult for our listeners to, well, listen. One of the ways we do this is …
Public Speaking Is the Safest Activity in the World with Frances Cahill
Public speaking may not be the greatest fear in the world, but it certainly scares a great many people. Some get nervous when presenting to large groups, while others break into sweats at the mere thought of speaking to even a small group. But as my guest, Frances Cahill, will share with you, it doesn’t have to be this way. You can be more comfortable when speaking in public.
How to Go from Camera-shy to Camera-confident with Elsewine Rietveld
There is no doubt about it, we live in a video world, and that’s a scary realization for many. The thought of seeing themselves on screen — or even worse — others seeing them on screen — makes their hearts pump faster, causes them to sweat, and … well, they react in the same way as someone who is afraid of speaking public. Thankfully, there are people like Elsewine Rietveld who can help us be more confident and more comfortable on camera.
5 Insider Tips Every Speaker Needs to Know with Tyler Foley
When it comes to any art or science, there are certain things that establish a foundation … that you absolutely need to know. In this episode, speaker, coach, and author Tyler Foley shares with you 5 insider tips that you, as a speaker, need to know.
Be sure to listen now and get these essential tips.
What a Teacher Can Teach You About Public Speaking with Megan Sweet
When we think of public speakers, we might not include teachers, but we should. Teachers present more often than those in just about any other profession. They present to their major audience — their students — five days a week for three quarters of the year. On top of this, they often present in meetings — whether it’s school related or otherwise.
Tune in as Megan Sweet, a teacher and public speaker, shares what she learned from experience and what you can learn, too.
Introverts Have an Advantage When Networking and Speaking with Matthew Pollard
People tell introverts that they have an edge when it comes to public speaking. Maybe this is to bolster their confidence; maybe there’s some truth to it. But in my case, anyway, as a proud, card-carrying introvert, I’ve found a great deal of comfort, if not relief, in this adage.
Join me and my guest, Matthew Pollard, author of “The Introvert’s Edge” series of best-selling books, as we discuss the advantage introverts actually have.
The Benefits of Creating Your Own Events with Rich Brooks
When it comes to speaking at events, there are several ways that public speakers usually get the gigs. They’re invited. They’re hired through speakers bureaus. They respond to a call for speakers. Or, they make the connection through their own prospecting.
But there’s another way, and in this episode, Rich Brooks, founder of the Agents of Change Digital Marketing Conference, shares the ins and outs of creating your own event.
How to Simplify Complex Data and Make Your Presentations More Memorable with Brian Krogh
Having your audience hear your presentation is one thing. Having people digest and process your point, and even more so remember it, requires that you simplify the complex. Listen is as presentation coach Brian Krogh shares how you can simplify complex data and make your presentations more effective and more memorable.
How to Start Conversations That Get Results with Chris Fenning
Everyday work conversations should be clear, concise, and get to the point quickly. The problem is we don’t always know how to do this. Because what does it mean to be concise? And how can you summarized a complex topic in just a few lines? My guest, Chris Fenning, author of The First Minute, has the answers to these and other questions.
QuickBite: Consultants, Speak and Attract More Clients
You chose to be a consultant so you could help people overcome obstacles and achieve their objectives, and that’s a worthy and lofty goal. But, if you’re like many consultants (dare I say most consultants), you struggle to consistently acquire high-quality, high-paying clients.
In this article, you’ll learn one of the most effective ways to develop a steady flow of clients. As a result, you’ll be …
How to Tame Your Nerves When Speaking in Public
Every presenter — novice and veteran alike — gets nervous when speaking in front of others. The difference from one presenter to another is how well they manage this anxiety. While some do not know why this happens to them, others understand why it is happening and how to turn this nervous energy into positive enthusiasm.
In this episode, you’ll learn why you get nervous, that it happens to everyone, and most important, how you can tame your nerves.
7 Ways Public Speaking Boosts Your Career
Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and Richard Branson each point to public speaking as the most valuable business skill for building a career. Going even further, Buffett, the billionaire investor and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, whose every investment is analyzed and scrutinized, has stated that developing his public speaking skills is arguably his greatest investment.
Why would he give so much credit to a “soft skill”? Buffett has answered that question, saying he realized at a young age that for others to understand his visions, objectives, and initiatives and to get the greatest return on his efforts, effective communication would be essential.
Check out seven ways that developing strong public speaking skills helps you move your career forward.
How to Boost Your Exposure Through Guest Podcasting with Case Lane
The interest in guest podcasting is growing, and opportunities to increase your exposure and credibility abound, but, if you’re like many perspective guests, you do not know how to reach podcasts without using an expensive PR agency, insider network, or extensive influence.
In this episode, Case Lane helps entrepreneurs, writers, and professionals deliver value to podcast audiences by recognizing the importance of speaking on podcasts to deliver a message, promote a product, and enhance authority in a subject area.
7 Ways Silence Improves Your Presentations
When you’re developing a presentation, there’s no doubt that you give thought to the words you will use to convey your message. But how often do you consider when you’ll pause during your talks? My guess is seldom, if ever. Hopefully, that will change after you learn how the often-ignored pause can transform what would otherwise be a rambling monologue into an engaging and interactive presentation.
In this episode, you’ll discover seven ways to implement pauses in your upcoming presentations so you and your audience members will have greater interaction … even when they can’t respond out loud.
Tips That Will Have You Speaking With Confidence
Whether you’re presenting in meetings, in court, in sales situations, or on stage, it takes your audience just a few seconds to assess your level of confidence. How would they rate yours? In this episode of Public Speaking: Your Competitive Advantage, you learn several easy-to-implement tips that help you build confidence in yourself and your presentations. These tips include verbal communications, nonverbal communications, rehearsing, and more.
Storytelling Adds Magic to Your Business Presentations
We’re always looking for a competitive advantage, and being an effective presenter provides you with that edge. But if you want to take your presentations to an even higher level, include meaningful stories. Storytelling adds magic to your presentations … yes, even business presentations. Listen in and learn how you can use stories to make your presentations more engaging and memorable, ultimately providing you with an advantage over your competition.
QuickBite: 3 Simple Ways to Add Impact to Your Presentations
This episode focuses on three techniques that will help your presentations be more impactful, influential, and persuasive, including my favorite part of a presentation. Tune in and discover what these three techniques are and how you can add them to your presentations. Soon, both you and your audiences will hear and feel the difference.
Ready! Set! No! Not Quite Yet!
One of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to presenting is delivering their talk without rehearsing. They believe, “I know what I’m going to say, so I’m all set.” But for those who want to engage, persuade, and inspire others, rehearsing is part of their preparation. They wouldn’t skip this critical step. Tune in and learn not only the value of rehearsing, but also hear how you can make rehearsing easier and more effective.
Be as Professional on Zoom Meetings as You Are in Person
We’re spending more time on Zoom than we could have imagined. It’s not only a new format for many of us, but it’s a whole new animal — one that’s difficult for some to tame. Zoom meetings aren’t going to end soon, so listen to these seven easy-to-implement tips that help you be as professional in virtual meetings as you are in face-to-face meetings.
How This Simple Shift Benefits Your Audience
In this brief episode, you learn how you can quickly differentiate yourself from other speakers, more effectively engage your audience, and have your audience understand what they’ll learn by listening to you. This is a winning technique you’ll want to use, whether you’re presenting in meetings or on stage.
10 Public Speaking Myths Busted
Some public speaking myths have been around for years, and I have no idea how they continue to be perpetuated. But I do know that when people believe them, they are much less likely to deliver meaningful, persuasive presentations. Listen in and hear if you’ve been taking any of these myths as fact, and if you have, you can stop believing them and start delivering presentations that resonate with others.
Transitioning to a Full-time Speaker With Clint Pulver
Leaving a steady, secure job behind and transitioning to being a full-time speaker can be a nerve-racking undertaking, but it’s well worth the effort and stress. If being a professional speaker is in your future, be sure to tune in and listen to sought-after speaker Clint Pulver explain how he successfully made the move and the advice for others who want to make the jump.
Catapult Your Speaking Career With a Book With John Jantsch
Whether you are beginning your speaking career or are a veteran, writing a book on your subject may be one of the most advantageous things you can do to showcase your expertise. In this episode, John Jantsch and I discuss how writing a book could push your speaking career forward. As you’ll discover, it’s a daunting undertaking but is well worth your time and effort.
Public Speaking Is a Work in Process and in Progress With Joey Coleman
Public speaking is a craft — a craft that no one really masters. In this episode, award-winning speaker and best-selling author Joey Coleman explains how it’s a constant work in process and progress. Tune in and listen as Joey shares how he has shaped his craft and how it has shaped him and how it can do the same for you.
Develop Your Confidence, Communication Skills, and Personal Brand With Sima Dahl
Contrary to what many people may think, speaking is a demanding profession. Developing your skills to the top of your game can be arduous and challenging. Listen in as Certified Public Speaker Sima Dahl shares her journey, discusses its rewards, and encourages you to do what it takes to achieve your goal of being a professional speaker.
Learn How Scott Ginsberg Built a Brand in an Unlikely Way
What happens when you wear a nametag 24/7? Even to bed? Just ask Scott Ginsberg. In the beginning, it was just a gimmick to make friends. But soon, his crazy idea didn’t seem so crazy.
Have Your Customers Build Your Business With Jay Baer
We all know how beneficial word-of-mouth marketing is, yet only 1% of businesses have a word-of-mouth strategy. This is because many believe that being competent in our professions inspires people to talk about us and our businesses. Oh, if only this were true. Jay Baer, Hall of Fame speaker and author of the best-selling book “Talk Triggers,” explains how you can use talk triggers and other tactics to grow your business.
Being Driven Can Overcome Many Challenges With Suzanne Evans
Is being a speaker one of your goals? Then you’ll want to listen to this episode where Suzanne Evans, president of Driven, Inc., shares her experience and advice to up-and-coming and established speakers alike. Learn how perseverance and determination are prerequisites for achieving this exciting objective.
Hone Your Skills With Master Storyteller Dr. Ivan Misner
Storytelling has the power to educate, entertain, and connect with your audiences. It’s also an art — an art to be studied, practiced, and polished. Whether you are an entrepreneur, executive, lawyer, or salesperson, sharing well-crafted stories helps you make an emotional connection. Learn more from Dr. Ivan Misner, one of the most engaging storytellers I know.
How to Identify, Sharpen, and Champion Your Most Important Points With Joel Schwarztberg
When developing presentations, we often confuse a point with a title, a topic, an idea, or a theme. In this episode, Joel Schwarztberg discusses how a point is something more. It’s a contention you can propose, argue, illustrate, and prove. It creates a position of value. Joel not only clarifies what a point is, but he also shed light on how to determine if what you’re saying is a point or if it falls short. If you want to reach your audiences more effectively, turn in and listen to Joel’s point.
Facts Tell; Stories Connect … and Other Insights into Public Speaking with Bob Burg
Whether you’re new to the craft of public speaking or an experienced veteran, you face a multitude of opportunities and challenges. In this episode, highly-sought-after speaker and best-selling author Bob Burg shares how he got started in the speaking business, the biggest challenge he faced on his way to becoming a captivating and purposeful speaker, and his most significant piece of advice he can offer to up and coming speakers. You definitely want to hear Bob’s advice.
