As a meetings facilitator and trainer, I am a regular observer of the one-minute introductions that invariably kick off group sessions. And I am always struck by how little people say about themselves that distinguishes them from anyone else. Very rarely do these introductions venture beyond the basic job description, except for occasional forays into […]
Read MoreBlog
Find your voice – and make it sing
Recently I had the privilege of media training an eminent professor who had spearheaded the clinical trial of a promising and much-needed new drug. The Prof was easily on top of his game in terms of his messaging. He had an impressive grasp of the scale and the impact of the conditions the drug was […]
Read MorePresentations: never save the best for last
Working with a client recently on an important presentation he was preparing for internal stakeholders, I was astonished when a ‘big reveal’ about a notable past achievement came in the final minute of a fairly unremarkable pitch. Once I pointed out the much greater impact he could achieve by reversing the order and using the […]
Read MoreFour fail-safe routes to presentation stardom
The problem with many of the presenters I coach is diffidence. Often, they are so self-effacing that they write themselves out of their own story. Before we had presentations, we had public speaking – a performance art on a par with drama, ballet or opera, in which personal magnetism played a prominent role. But public […]
Read MoreFive ways for experts to fight fake news
The latest scary statistics about the resurgence of the measles virus, due – at least in high-income countries – to vaccine refusal, highlights the various ‘cognitive biases’ that lead people to base their decision-making on unfounded fears and beliefs rather than top-level scientific evidence. They act as a timely reminder that it takes a lot […]
Read MoreWhy communicators should always start with ‘why’
Working with a series of groups last week, I suddenly understood that the essence of my communication skills training can be summed up in one word – WHY. When I am preparing people to communicate with media or other stakeholders about a product, a service or a function they nearly always want to start by […]
Read MoreThe ‘5S’ plan for powerful, persuasive key messages
The sharpest tool in my communication skills training box is a message development exercise I call ‘Answers First’. It is a tightly focused exercise, which I use to prepare company spokespeople for a specific meeting, negotiating session, presentation or interview. It involves identifying, honing and prioritising a brief series of key messages, each supported by […]
Read MoreOvercome presentation nerves with ‘3 Ps’
What does a communication skills trainer say to a professional who is so terrified of the prospect of giving a presentation – a requirement of her job, no less – that he or she can’t even be persuaded to give it a go in the safe space of the training room? This was the problem […]
Read MoreIs there a real role for ‘uptalk’?
One of the commonest verbal irritants I encounter in my communication skills training courses is ‘uptalk’ – a rising inflection at the end of sentences that makes statements sound like questions. I observe this speech pattern most commonly among younger women, and I invariably urge them to try to change a habit that makes them […]
Read More8 presentation hacks for holding attention
Presenting is a difficult business and presenters face numerous challenges if they are to be engaging, memorable and influential – the three key objectives of presentations. Of these challenges, none is more critical – or more tricky – than holding the attention of the audience. If you Google ‘audience attention span’, you will find endless […]
Read MoreEnd every presentation with a call to action
In my last blog I talked about the importance of making a powerful first impression when you present to an audience. But endings are just as important as beginnings, and the professionals I coach seem to find them just as challenging. Typically, they get to the end of their slide deck, summarise the data (although […]
Read MorePresentations and the crucial importance of first impressions
Of all the suggestions I make to people on my presentation skills training courses, the one they find hardest to follow is to seize the audience’s attention from the get-go. They usually pay lip service to the idea that first impressions are vital, and you don’t get a second chance to make one; but when […]
Read More