Before the presenter had barely uttered a word, your mind had already checked out. You were no longer present in that meeting room – you were prancing playfully across a white sand beach, the fruity flavors of your boozy cocktail…
What Does the Perfect PowerPoint Presentation Look Like?
A friend and former colleague of mine recently emailed me and asked, “What does the perfect PowerPoint presentation look like?” Great question, but also a tough one because the answer changes for every audience. It’s impossible to show a visual…
Software Won’t Make You a Great Presenter
Ever since the birth of mankind, humans have searched for shortcuts. We’re obsessed with getting the result in the least amount of time. We love the idea of putting forth as little effort as possible to get the job done….
A Holiday Ode to Awful Presentations
I love the feel-good spirit of Christmas, but I also realize it’s an important time of year for commerce. In fact, Santa’s Workshop is a business. A huge amount of goods must be manufactured and shipped out the door within…
How to Sell Without Being Too Salesy
Perhaps the biggest challenge for new entrepreneurs is selling. We’re smart and good at what we do, but most of us aren’t natural salespeople. In fact, we cringe when we think of the stereotypical brash salesman who’s patting the client…
The Pitfalls of Perfection
For years presentation trainers have touted the need for perfect presentation body language. They’ve taught and written books on the ideal back and shoulder posture, foot placement and angle, hand positioning, finger usage, and calculated movements on stage. All this,…
Confessions of a Recovering Introvert
There’s nothing wrong with being an introvert. I know many fabulous ones. I’m still one, and always will be. But a few years ago I decided I wanted to become a master communicator. Someone who could articulate any concept to…
Communication Lessons Learned from International Travel
Yesterday I arrived back in Chicago after 2+ weeks in Europe. My trip consisted of both business and leisure activities, and my experiences in each made me think of a few rules of thumb to keep in mind when communicating…
Get Off Your Phone
In recent years there have been a number of films and TV shows depicting zombie invasions. They roam around aimlessly running into people and trying to bite them. But why do we need all of this expensively-produced zombie entertainment when…
To Be a Great Speaker, Study Your Audience
When working to become better communicators, most people focus solely on analyzing their own behaviors. The secret, rather, lies in looking beyond oneself and studying the audience. There are hundreds of books that outline the model of what a great…