This is a series of posts about the things I see in my coaching practice that most frequently derail presentations from political speeches to supply chain management reports. 

If I were to make an America's Most Wanted Presentation Killers poster this one would top the list:

Giving your attention to Powerpoint when you should be giving it to the audience.

You are speaking. You are staring at your…

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1. Good Morning

If you start by saying good morning, then you should really mean good morning. Don’t absently gloss over the words. Greet your listeners, sincerely, deliberately, and directly. Most likely they will respond, if only non-verbally. Congratulations, you just got your audience's attention.



2. Don't worry. It's about them.

Rather than imagining that you are “on the spot” as you speak, frame the occasion as a chance for you to find out… Continue

Tip One: What are you doing?

Next time you have to speak, rather than starting with the question “what am I going to say” start with the question “what am I going to do?” We can always think of things to say, but people are often fuzzy about what their purpose is in speaking. You are speaking in order to do something. What is it that you are doing?



Tip Two: Be Yourself

The time to change all those things about yourself that you don’t like: how you stand, how… Continue

PodA_5_11_09.mp3

No doubt you will be shocked to learn that when you coach people in public speaking, almost everyone who is interested in improving begins with essentially the same question: how can I be a better speaker? Not too surprising, as this would seem to be the whole point of hiring a speaking coach.



In truth, if no one ever asked themselves this question, I would have a tough time finding clients. But it is ironic; because this perfectly reasonable, logical question is not the right… Continue