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Like many sports enthusiasts, I sat with rapt attention last weekend watching 59-year-old Tom Watson defy father time and all matter of plausibility by coming within one putting stroke of winning the British Open. His grace and poise impressed all......
What we can learn from Michael Jackson
The passing of legend Michael Jackson has been felt in every part of society's fabric, so it should come as no surprise that the community of presentation professionals can reflect on his life and take something from his experiences. As......
PowerPoint Live Design Contest Ending July 1
Our annual user conference has a fun and storied tradition of essentially putting out for bid the designing of our conference slide template. We invite all comers to participate, with the creator of the chosen design being awarded with a......
7,000 miles away...feels just like home
I am enjoying my first-ever trip to Scandinavia, having been asked by the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Norway to give a one-day workshop on presentation skills. It stays light until past 11p in Oslo this time of year......
Pretty Slides = Good Presentation...NOT.
Forgive the radio silence over the past four weeks; I have been busier than ever before. I was involved extensively with a defense contractor that I an not allowed to identify, a pharmaceutical company that I am (Bristol-Myers Squibb), a......
As i was watching the Masters today, one of the biggest golf tournaments in the world, I was struck by how many players made the same mistake. On the 15th green, a severely sloped and long traverse, just about every......
Sara Marks's Blogs
Library Leadership Massachusetts
A forum for library leaders to discuss leadership-related topics in Massachusetts....
ARC Information Literacy & Reference Special Interest Group
Group of librarians in the Worcester, Massachusetts area representing the Academic Research Collaborative for resource & information sharing, networking, and training....
News and information about the Hijra community in India....
Ah, Um, Er... A Toastmaster's Blog
Personal tales of public speaking, leadership and advice for fellow Toastmasters....
I am a knitter who is always working on some project and trying to learn more about knitting....
TEDTalks (video)
TEDTalks : The LXD: In the Internet age, dance evolves ... - The LXD (2010)
The LXD (the Legion of Extraordinary Dancers) electrify the TED2010 stage with an emerging global street-dance culture, revved up by the Internet. In a preview of Jon Chu’s upcoming Web series, this astonishing troupe show off their superpowers....
TEDTalks : James Cameron: Before Avatar ... a curious boy - James Cameron (2010)
James Cameron's big-budget (and even bigger-grossing) films create unreal worlds all their own. In this personal talk, he reveals his childhood fascination with the fantastic -- from reading science fiction to deep-sea diving -- and how it ultimately drove the success of his blockbuster hits "Aliens," "The Terminator," "Titanic" and...
TEDTalks : Gary Flake: is Pivot a turning point for web exploration? - Gary Flake (2010)
Gary Flake demos Pivot, a new way to browse and arrange massive amounts of images and data online. Built on breakthrough Seadragon technology, it enables spectacular zooms in and out of web databases, and the discovery of patterns and links invisible in standard web browsing....
TEDTalks : Harsha Bhogle: The rise of cricket, the rise of India - Harsha Bhogle (2009)
The tale of a major global cultural phenomenon: Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle describes the spectacular arrival of fast-paced 20-20 cricket as it parallels the rise of modern India. He traces the game from its sleepy English roots to the current world of celebrity owners and million-dollar player contracts....
TEDTalks : Daniel Kahneman: The riddle of experience vs. memory - Daniel Kahneman (2010)
Using examples from vacations to colonoscopies, Nobel laureate and founder of behavioral economics Daniel Kahneman reveals how our "experiencing selves" and our "remembering selves" perceive happiness differently. This new insight has profound implications for economics, public policy -- and our own self-awareness....
TEDTalks : Raghava KK: Five lives of an artist - Raghava KK (2010)
With endearing honesty and vulnerability, Raghava KK tells the colorful tale of how art has taken his life to new places, and how life experiences in turn have driven his multiple reincarnations as an artist -- from cartoonist to painter, media darling to social outcast, and son to father....
The PowerPoint® Blog
PowerPoint is a great tool for creating and manipulating mock-ups. And PPT 2007's drawing and style tools make it possible to complete entire projects without needing outside resources. As example, this application interface mockup was done completely with PowerPoint (eg. no photoshop, illustrator, or other external application). The full project...
At my meeting last week I was fortunate enough to have Guy Kawasaki as the guest and run his presentation. Really great speaker, super presentation, cool website (alltop.com) and nice enough to pose for a photo. - Troy @ TLCOriginal post blogged on b2evolution....
A few asked about the event at Microsoft. It is a fantastic privelege to spend a few days on the Microsoft's Redmond campus for the MVP summit. There were over 1,500 Microsoft MVPs attending. There are 34 PowerPoint MVPs globally and 13 of us were able to accept an invitation...
Had a great time at Microsoft last week. I went directly from the Microsoft campus to a show in Los Angeles and am just now getting the opportunity to look at photos and reflect on the great things discussed. I did take the opportunity to jump up on the main stage...
This great tip is from MS PPT MVP Sandy Johnson at The Presentation Wiz. In talking about developing presentation templates Sandy mentioned a disclaimer type slide she includes at the beginning of all templates to help the user understand there are some challenges in using PPT 2003 templates in PPT...
List of What's New In PPT 2010
Fellow PPT MVP Echo Swinford has the most comprehensive list of new features (and a few now missing) at her site, echosvoice.com. This is the most comprehensive compilation list I have seen with 60+ features listed. If you have been using PPT 2007 for a while, or recently moved it...
Twitter / tonyrobbins
tonyrobbins: "Be who you are & say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those that matter don't mind!" Dr. Seuss...
tonyrobbins: "Do what you fear and the Death of Fear is certain!" tony robbins
tonyrobbins: "Do what you fear and the Death of Fear is certain!" tony robbins...
tonyrobbins: No amount of wealth will please one who cannot not find riches in what is free. Find the beauty in your life today!...
tonyrobbins: Microsoft's I Pad killer. Looks interesting but I'm a raving Apple fan. Not sure Microsoft can make anything great? http://bit.ly/bew3n9...
tonyrobbins: RT @DeepakChopra: When you are free from fear, You can step forward in life, immune from what people think of you....
tonyrobbins: Met Garth Brooks In Las Vegas. I was not a fan before but he performed music that shapped his life- rock, soul, EXTRAORDINARY entertainer!...
Speaking about Presenting: Presentation Tips from Olivia Mitchell
Most hecklers are made, not born. If people don’t feel listened to they will turn into hecklers. So the critical step to avoid making hecklers out of people in your audience is to listen. At the Presentation Camp in LA last year I facilitated a session on handling a heckler. Lisa...
How to manage feedback from the presentation backchannel
In my eBook How to present with a backchannel I recommend that the first time you present with a backchannel, you shouldn’t try and monitor or respond to feedback in real-time (the term backchannel refers to an online conversation taking place at the same time as people are talking live)....
What you need to know before using a cartoon in your presentation
I was reviewing a technical presentation for a client. The topic was the latest dental procedures. Every few slides a cartoon popped up. Cartoons about people with bad teeth. They were tangentially relevant to the topic of the presentation – but didn’t help to promote the message of the presentation....
6 presentation tips from a professional speaker
Scott Berkun’s book Confessions of a public speaker is an entertaining and enlightening read on what it what it takes, and what it’s like, to be a professional speaker. I’ve shamelessly cherry-picked the presentation tips from Scott’s book that I most agree with. 1. Let go of perfection If you’d like to be...
What’s my best presentation tip for the presentations that you do?
Every type of presentation has its own challenges. As part of a “Public Speaking and the New Year” blog carnival organized by Angela DeFinis, I’ve identified what I see as the major challenge or trend for each presentation type in 2010 and given you my best presentation tip to overcome...
How to handle a texting audience
A reader asked me this question: Some of us who are 45+ are finding that younger people text and use computers during presentations to the point of rudeness. This happens even when others in the presentation give great evaluations. We think we’ll be seen as “old farts” if we ask them...
Matt Eventoff
Speech Coaching for Startups and Senators, Pt I
I spent an interesting(and frustrating) two days last week- the first watching a number of legislative hearings, and the second watching a number of presentations/pitches before venture capitalists and private equity groups. The similarity was striking, and there are 1. You are presenting for your audience, not yourself — It doesn’t matter...
IT Executives – You Are At Risk!
Whether you are a CIO or a front line IT professional, if you can not explain to other professionals, either in IT or on the business end of your organization, exactly what you do and what you deliver for the organization, you will have a problem in this economic climate....
Fear of Public Speaking, Pt. II – Breathing Techniques
Learn and use breathing techniques to reduce public speaking anxiety and public speaking fear....
Crisis Communication – What Toyota Should Do Now
What Mr. Toyoda (and any executive in a similar situation) should do now: 1. Develop your Message – Today! – The Prius was a groundbreaking achievement, Lexus is a leader in the luxury class, and Toyota has always been dependable; A week later, there is no message, which is a message. 2....
Toyota’s Crisis Communication – Hiding Doesn’t Work
Toyota is learning a lesson that numerous companies have learned the hard way – when a crisis strikes, and the media comes a knockin’, answer the door or suffer the consequences. Toyota may be an international powerhouse, however at the same time it is a family-based brand, the family being the...
Fear Public Speaking? No More!
Man, I wish it was that easy. I speak publicly often, and I still get nervous prior to every speech or presentation. Every one. That being said, I'm in pretty good company -- it has been noted that Sir Winston Churchill and President Lincoln also got quite anxious...
Persuasive Communication and Life Skills
Sending Yourself Messages From The Future – Life Skills
Last month, I blogged about how to start your year off right with nutrition and exercise. To make such changes for the better, your motivation has to align with your direction. And one of the best... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other...
Technology News About Apple and Microsoft Offer Lesson In Contrast
ontrast can be used as a signal of persuasion. It allows us to consider one thing in the light of another. And in today's technology news, I noticed two stories that offer a perfect lesson in... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links,...
Can Changing Your Story Change Your Life?
Here's my story, and I'm sticking to it. I love narrative psychology, and teach it to my clients and students as a powerful change tool. Because, consider this. Everyone has a story. And when you... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and...
Closing The Loop On The Blame Game
Some people are more practiced at assigning blame than others. There is no point in arguing with them. Much conflict comes down to blaming statements. Yet more often than not, no matter how... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] ...
Obama Out of the Bubble, Onto the Battlefield of Persuasion
The President can't persuade Congress to make meaningful changes if he's allowing Congress to define the narrative. In a battle of persuasion, he'd best act now or his moment will be lost. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] ...
Great Speaking Coach
Mission Statements in 140 Characters
It's amazing how we've become adept at communicating succinctly in such a tiny format as Twitter. Since there's bragging rights for the most followers, you work hard to be clever, smart, witty, humorous and exciting in just those 140 characters.......
Speech Makes Point-No Slides Needed
Speeches can be extremely effective in making points without the use of slides. I'd been struggling against a tide of negativity and needed to talk about it but of course, every speech has to be about the audience. I put......
Leading Away from Negativity and Pessimism
How hard to you work to overcome resistance and negativity? If you're an optimistic, courageous and self-confidant person, you'll try pretty hard to overcome resistance and negativity. That's the definition of optimism--I can do it! It's become clear to me--an......
Meaning of Robust? Ask Dilbert
Humorists make you take a second look at things you take for granted and Dilbert has been an outstanding example of this. How many of the foibles and quirks of your office colleagues have been featured in Dilbert columns over......
Groans and moans, angst, procrastination--these are many of the behaviors from business people who have to speak or present. What will I talk about, how will I have time for all the research, can I do something that isn't boring?......
Audience Grabber - Your Preview
Hors d'oeuvre, appetizers, sample tidbits--these offerings by restaurants and party givers provide a model for your speech opening. Give your audience an exciting taste of what's to come rather than following the horrible old rule "tell them what you're going......
The Shy Speaker's Guide to Success on Stage
Concise Communication Tips for the Day
Greetings are cultural dependent – A Chinese person would most likely ask “Have you Eaten?”, to which you should answer “Yes..” to start the conversation. A Westerner would most likely ask, “How are you?” or “How have you been!”, to which you answer “Great, and you look great too!”. Unfortunately,...
Leading Competently with the Language of Leadership
The role of a leader is to lead. Sounds like a no-brainer huh? What is a leader if nobody chooses to follow him? I was once told by my platoon commander when I was serving the Singapore Armed Forces that “the biggest fear a leader is to look over his shoulders...
Why Struggle When You Can Share?
I got to read a really touching story in the local newspaper lately which really reminded me of the time I spent with my mother too. (See post) Besides reminding me of my own story, I thought this article might be a worthy read for you too. Take some time to...
The bustling streets, fervor activity. I’ve long heard about their friendliness, sincerity and enthusiasm at learning. But none had really prepared me for the scenes I was to see, yet alone be part of. I’m of course, talking about my latest training adventure at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Organised by a...
5 Essential Principles You Must Know For Success on Stage
I was coaching a friend on public speaking a couple of weeks back when we were addressing about her public speaking anxiety. In her own words, her mind would go blank, she’d freeze and get paralyzed, and she’d suffer from panic attacks thinking about her impending doom… erm… I mean...
Six Speaking Skills You Need For Managing a Crisis
I got the privilege of evaluating an advanced project during a meeting at Tampines Changkat Toastmasters Club this evening. The project was on “Crisis Management”. The speaker was expected chair a media conference and deliver an official statement addressing a crisis that had struck the organization that he was working...
Speak to Lead
One of the best "tools" for connecting with people is a genuine smile. Note, however, the word "genuine." In a 30-year study, researchers began by going through 141 photos in a Mills College (Oakland, California) yearbook, and marking those with... ...
Humor Trivializes Evil - NPR Treats ACORN Child Prostitution as a Joke
First of all, now that I have your attention, I want to make clear this is not an attack on National Public Radio. But it was an NPR broadcast that sparked my thoughts about the power humor has to trivialize... ...
Public Speaking: Mnemonic Devices-Barfing Your Way to Success
Mnemonic devices for public speaking have been used for thousands of years. The initial application was to help speakers remember what they were going to say as they delivered the speech. (For an overview and history of mnemonic devices used... ...
Persuasive Messages: Story Power, Greek Tragedies & Post Traumatic Stress Treatment
As those of you who read this regularly know, I'm a strong advocate of the power of stories, the use of narrative, to engage audiences and open them to your messages. Today's edition of USA Today contains an interesting article... ...
Presidential oratory, discourse & disagreement - A look back at a kinder time?
Congress has gone home. The president and his family are vacationing in Martha's Vineyard. And most of the political structure (except the ones who can't afford private schools; public schools are already back in session) including the news media, are... ...
Persuasion: Dangerous Message - Joe Friday vs Clarence Darrow at Political Bloggers Conventions
"Just the facts, ma'am."* The phrase made famous by Dragnet's Sgt. Joe Friday, raised its deceptive head last week at the Netroots Nation (liberal) and RightOn (conservative) political bloggers annual conventions in Pittsburgh. Toward the end of a Q&A session... ...
speakfearlessly.net
Why doing good is good for business…
By Terry Gault A recent article that I read in Fortune magazine fits nicely with previous posts about transparency, our ethos as a company and the skills that we teach in our Complete Communicator, Consultative Sales, Consultative Communication, TeleSales Mastery, and Conflict Resolution workshops. There are several excerpts that I wanted to...
How to Tell if You Work in a Fear-Ridden Environment
Editor's Note: This is a guest post by BrillianceInc Check any that apply: “cya” by email is an evolved and widely practiced art. (...)...
Storytelling: Super Bowl 2010 Commercials
by Terry Gault We saw some great Super Bowl commercials this year! My personal favorite was the Google Parisian Love Story ad. Google nailed it – telling a powerful and moving story with video screen captures entirely with the Google search platform and simple music and sound effects. (...)...
by Terry Gault January 31: that's a good question A phrase usually indicating that the speaker has absolutely no idea how to answer said question. Often used to stall for time. (...)...
Editor's Note: This a guest post by Robert Graham of GrahamComm We’ve all heard the song that begins, “Tis a gift to be simple…”, but it didn’t really hit me what a gift it is until two weeks ago. I was leading a presentation workshop with a sales team, and they were...
How to Make Corporate Training Rock
by Terry Gault I often tell clients, “If you are not having fun, you are not doing it right.” This certainly applies to presentation, sales, marketing, and to training. To be completely candid with our readers, we benefit from working in a field that typically engenders low expectations. Thousands of clients over...
Nick R Thomas - A Public Speaker's Blog
Full Marx for this speaker's timing!
New Forest Past Rotarians and Associates I gave my third talk to the New Forest Past Rotarians and Associates on 15 September, this time about Groucho Marx. They now meet at the South Lawn Hotel in Milford-on-Sea and, as I sat outside this venue on a very warm morning while they had their business...
Can you lose a visual aid but keep your audience's attention?
Bitterne Park Pensioners Club, SouthamptonMy fellow public speaking blogger Lisa Braithwaite recently posted about a presentation which was very successful despite some major problems with the power supply.Her post reminded me of an evening back in the late 90s when I was booked to speak to a large group of...
I am speaking to you again and here's why...
Lyndhurst Probus, HampshireOn 3 September I was back at the Forest Lodge Hotel in Lyndhurst for my second talk to the town's Probus Club, this time about Patrick Campbell.The nature of a speaker's presentations to the same organisation can vary. For example, the last time I spoke to this club...
Happy New Year to readers of this blog. I still have a number of speaking engagements from late 2009 to tell you about, starting with a repeat booking forThe Probus Club of the New ForestOn 1 September I spoke for the second time to the Probus Club of the New...
Fordingbridge 93 Club, HampshireOn 20 August I spoke for the third time to Fordingbridge 93 Club, a men's group similar to a Probus and named after the year of its formation.This is a popular club (they have to limit the attendance at their meetings to 80) and their morning talks...
Public speaking: no show is a no no
Yateley & District U3A, BerkshireI spoke at a Monthly Meeting of Yateley and District U3A at the Sandhurst Community Hall on 4 August, my second booking for them,I arrived at Bournemouth station in good time, got on the train and waited for its scheduled departure at 08.45. And waited. And...
SpeakerSue Says...
What speakers know about twitter that will help you succeed
Doyle Slayton (@SalesBlogcast) turned me on to the Harvard Business Review post about Vancouver’s Twitter Lesson. It’s an interesting and funny (Don’t fault us for not getting the torch up in time, Canadians invented insulin not viagra. #van2010 #olympics) article about how organizations should focus on positive tweets and ignore the...
Why cold calling is dead and what you can do to prospect anyway
In an association LinkedIn discussion, Christa Haberstock asked if cold calling was dead. At last count, there were over 90 responses to her question. I’ll save you the time of scrolling the comments to find an answer you may like. It is. And then again, it isn’t. The concept of prospecting for...
Why your “elevator speech” may be so 2009
“So what do you do?” they ask. You’re prepared (or at least you think you are). You know this “elevator speech” shouldn’t be more than 30 seconds. You even practiced the skill at some workshop you attended last year. I‘m a sales manager for ABC, you start off. With seconds left, you...
What’s the most outrageous statement you’ve ever made…
A friend of mine, a minister, used to love starting his presentations with: “There are no Christians anymore (pause, pause, pause) according to The Christian Science Monitor. (pause) I am here to disprove that.” Mort Utley was his name and if he were still alive, I’m certain he’d still be...
Your comments about this morning’s post are wonderful! I can’t respond directly through Twitter or FB, though this blog seems to make it through the government scrubbing. There are many wonderful customs here in China. At dinner, a tiny amount of wine is poured and to drink it, you must toast...
Presentation Mastery: Why being technically perfect may be the worst thing you can do
There are a lot of technically perfect people in this world. Don’t be one of them. I’m not saying that technical expertise isn’t needed. I wouldn’t want a brain surgeon without it. But if that’s all you have, you’ll always be less than great, no matter how proficient you are. As a...
Twitter / KevinEikenberry
KevinEikenberry: RT @ArveeRobinson: What do all great speakers have? You're right - a coach! | Speakers and others check out http://bit.ly/9QltZd 3/16 event...
KevinEikenberry: Carnival of HR - The Hangover Edition is up! http://bit.ly/bCyc2s #HRCarnival
KevinEikenberry: Carnival of HR - The Hangover Edition is up! http://bit.ly/bCyc2s #HRCarnival...
KevinEikenberry: @NicoleWTHR I don't think Dogs get embarassed... one reason we love them so much. :)...
KevinEikenberry: @NicoleWTHR what kind of pup do you have?
KevinEikenberry: @NicoleWTHR what kind of pup do you have?...
KevinEikenberry: RT @MikeHaberman: #FF @wallybock is a great leadership/supervisory training writer. It appears even @tompeters follows him, you should too....
KevinEikenberry: RT @mjasmus: RT @KevinEikenberry: Do We Nurture or Build Relationships? http://bit.ly/9PGUnp ~ I vote for both. Build first, then nurture....