As a savvy presenter, you find out as much as possible about your audience members before you address them. What do they already know about the topic? What do they need to know? What do they want to know? Will they be receptive or reluctant to hear what you have to say? You plan accordingly. [...]
Poor introductions prove painful—not only for the person introduced, but for the audience as well. Pity the poor person standing behind the curtain about to appear and work his or her way back from the handicap created by the opening comments. And no doubt, audience members have already begun to stress themselves, fearing what’s to [...]
The question “Do you think I should dumb it down for this group?” pops up all too often from those making technical presentations. When I hear it, I’m tempted to respond, “No, I recommend that you smarten up the speaker.” (Pardon the grammar and the sarcasm.) Why does this question sound so arrogant? It assumes [...]
Have you ever attended a large conference where the speaker went over the allotted time? The room begins to empty. The survivors that remain seated look trapped and angry. The frustrated event planner looks helpless as if watching a runaway trainer. People are busy. They have places to go, people to see, things to do. [...]
Every time this “slide” question comes up in our presentation skills workshops, I’m tempted to counter with this question: “How much does a house cost?” Impossible to answer except in a general sense: “Far fewer than most people use.” The asker probes, “But as a rule-of-thumb, how many—one per minute? One per three minutes? Thirty [...]
“You’re hoarse. Sounds like you may be coming down with a cold. Do we need to reschedule our interview?” This question has come to me repeatedly in the past 7 years from media people, teleseminar hosts, and clients. Familiar with my throat condition and earlier diagnosis, I reassure them, sip a little hot tea, and [...]
Presidential and vice presidential candidates are not the only people who prep to do well when peppered with questions. As we’ve seen recently and throughout history, debates can change a political race. And more critical to your future, impromptu occasions to state your opinions on issues, give updates, or respond to questions can shape perceptions [...]
Every debate has spurred its overriding story. The first debate caught Obama “napping,” as the president himself joked at the recent Alfred Smith gala. The walk-away story of the vice presidential debate was Joe Biden’s body language. The spin-off of the second presidential debate proved to be the contentious nature of both candidates as they [...]
Evidently, the President found some Gatorade after his first debate. The contrast proved startling between his first and second debates. Both candidates showed up sharp, sure, and solidly prepared. Result: A spirited debate with few blunders. This is the kind of debate that makes an executive communication coach like me have to pay close attention. [...]
Those who listened to the vice presidential debate tonight probably call Biden the winner. Those who watched the debate probably consider Ryan the winner. And if any of you are old enough to remember the very first televised presidential debate––the Nixon-Kennedy debate in 1960 (or recall your history professor’s lectures about it)––then you know the [...]
