Knowing the basic principles of numerical communication can help us become more effective and persuasive communicators. A couple of months ago, I read “Making Numbers Count” by Chip Heath and Karla Starr who observed that we could lose our audience “when we don’t translate numbers into an instinctive human experience.” These translation techniques serve as […]
Speaking Tips
How to Create an Engaging Speaker Introduction
Although some may not regard their introduction as a high priority, a good speech introduction has many benefits for a speaker. I’ve recently had several clients who were preparing presentations to deliver this spring, and the topic of their introductions came up. How should they be introduced? What makes a good speaker introduction? My recommendation […]
10 Q & A Strategies for a Successful Presentation
In-person speaking is beginning to come back, so be prepared with these successful Q & A strategies. One of the make-or-break components of a presentation that many clients don’t think much about is the Q & A. For many informational speakers, it is a time in their presentation for audience interaction, to clarify the content […]
3 Ways to Influence Emotions In Our Audience
As speakers, we need to be intentional about how we use our emotions for influence. I am often asked by clients how they can be more influential with the emotions of their audiences. Some have an ask for their senior leadership, others want their audience to accept a change within their organizational processes or procedures, […]
3 Strategies to Reduce Public Speaking Anxiety
According to the National Social Anxiety Center, anxiety over public speaking affects 73% of our population. Speaking in front of an audience, whether in-person or virtual, puts us in a vulnerable position and our brain perceives we are in danger. As a result of this “threat”, our bodies produce hormones that prepare us for “flight […]
3 Factors to Gain Credibility with your Audience
Recently I worked with a client who posed an interesting question: “What could she do in to gain credibility with her audience?” Speaker credibility has its roots in Aristotle’s teachings over 2,000 years ago as he wrote about a speaker’s character, otherwise known as ethos. According to Aristotle, a speaker’s character was just as important as […]