The Train-the-Trainer Model is very common in the business world. However, many Train-the-Trainer programs have big flaws. A good analogy of what happens during this process is the old "telephone game." Put ten people in a room. Whisper a phrase with more than 10...
How, exactly do we collect feedback on a presentation? Are there ways to solicit feedback that will help us grow as speakers? The answer is, absolutely, YES! However, the way that you typically ask for feedback may not be the best way to gain confidence as a speaker....
This is our "Public Speaking 101" page. We are publishing it in honor of our 101st podcast. Below is a list of 101 public speaking tips to help you reduce stage fright and become more self-confident. Don't try to memorize all 101 tips, and don't try to apply every...
Body language in public speaking is the nonverbal queues that your movements make during communication. Presenters often focus on what they are going to say and their visual aids. However, we often overlook an important part of the speech -- body language. In public...
If you deliver presentations at the office, you'll often look for ways to create better PowerPoint presentations. Let's face it. Most meetings are pretty boring. They are also repetitive. So, if you are a speaker, and you deliver PowerPoint slideshows, they can be a...
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you present a bid proposal. Here is the scenario... You have done your homework. A team at your company painstakingly created the perfect sales proposal. In fact, the potential client was so impressed, that they moved you to...
You have identified a problem or opportunity for your company. Now you need to get approval. So, how do you present a proposal to management that will get approved? The process is actually pretty simple. The method of how to present a proposal to management that we...
As we approach the 100th podcast episode, I'm amazed at how my company and training program have changed. I'm shocked at how important continuous improvement methodologies have been to this process. By the way, if you are looking for a long series of academic...
Do you need a business presentation coach? Well... It depends... Last week, I gave several different reasons why presentation skills are important to business success. Great presentation skills can create opportunities for advancement and increase income. How exactly...
I was reminded this week about the importance of presentation skills in the workplace. Three participants in my presentation skills class in Detroit taught job placement skills. I noticed a couple of interesting things as the class went on. First, these participants...
This "remember stories from your life" post is part three of a three-part series about how to tell stories in your speech. My audience members will often come up to me after a presentation asking, "How do you remember all your stories?" Actually remembering...
Great speakers know how to tell a great story. This post will give you the five key steps of storytelling that these great speakers know. This is a continuation of the post about how inserting stories into your presentations reduces public speaking fear. In that post,...
Feel nervous about speaking in public? Tell a story in your speech (early), and you can reduce public speaking fear dramatically. One of the first public speaking secrets that we share in our public speaking training classes is that stories are your friend. When you...
Looking for an elevator speech template? In this post, I'm going to explain how to create a 30 second commercial (elevator pitch) for yourself. (Or for your company.) This elevator speech can be used to introduce yourself to a new contact, help you get an interview,...
So you did it! You graduated at the top of your class. Now you have to write your Valedictorian Speech. However, since this is the first (and only) time you will ever do it, you may not know exactly how to write a valedictorian speech. You are not alone. Just about...