I’m here at the National Speakers Association National Convention Influence ’11 in Anaheim, California and there’s a theme that keeps coming up. Larry Winget spoke about it brilliantly today; Glenna Salsbury and Lou Heckler spoke about it in their superb keynotes; the one-of-a-kind Randy Gage Convention Chair raised it today; Terri Sjodin addressed it in …
Today I arrived in St. Louis for an event with Servpro and was met at the airport by an incredibly nice driver, taken to the hotel and given an executive suite (zounds!) and a few hours later after being out, returned to discover that a wine & cheese platter had been delivered to my room.This …
When I coach presenters, I often tell them to “Create the performance you would pay to attend.” There are many elements that go into creating an award-winning speech, workshop, keynote or presentation, but one that is worth considering is that of taking risks. If you are watching the Tony Awards tonight, many of the shows, …
There is a time in our lives when we begin to shave off parts of who we are. The time is never just once, though. It comes again and again, as we turn a corner in our lives, as we are presented with a new environment or risk, as we stumble down the path into …
In “The King’s Speech”, a new feature film about King George VI and his private speaking tutor, Lionel, there’s an extraordinary moment in which Geoffrey Rush (the tutor) says to Colin Firth (the Duke of York and King to be), “My job is to give people faith in their own voice.” Exactly. Part of my …
Trusting Your True Voice – A Speech Fit for a King Read More »
Last week, I presented a keynote and workshop at the PAR Solutions Conference (http://www.par.net/) — and met an extraordinary group of men and women who have dedicated their lives to improving the lives of others. In the breakout session titled The Prism Effect(TM) & The Art of Teamwork, we explored ways that leaders can apply …
THE PARADOX OF PREPARATION One of the least understood elements of giving great presentations is what I call “The Paradox of Preparation.” Often clients will say to me, “I don’t really like to prepare. I just like to go with the flow, how I feel.” In essence, they are saying, “I just like …
The Paradox of Preparation – Presentation Skills Coaching at its Finest Read More »
A great technique for effective communication & presentation skills is what I call the Future Commercial™ in which you tell the story and paint the picture of what it might look like if XYZ happened. Fill in the blank for XYZ…the event you’re trying to AVOID in your company or organization. This is particularly …
Presentation & Communication Skills – The Future Commercial(TM) Read More »
In preparation to audition for HBO’s Aspen Comedy Festival in the 1990s, I spoke with Lou Viola, Senior Producer of Festival Talent, and a member of the panel evaluating my show. While the running time of my full-length show was an hour, my actual audition had to be much shorter. I had to create a …
“Laaannnnddd yawr point!” Bobby Lewis would call out to us from his chair during scene study class. Sunken into his faded blue jean jacket, with his bald head, round face, squinty eyes and wire rimmed glasses, Bobby looked like a little Buddha, one of the last living legends from the days of The Group Theatre and …
