Mastering Work-Related Questions: How to Answer, “What do you do?”
Have you ever been at a party or a professional conference and had someone ask you, “So what do you do?” Did you stumble through the answer or give a quick boring answer? Did you wish you could sound clear and confident? Today, in the video below, and also in this post, I will give […]
Standing Your Ground: 20+ Phrases
Sometimes you need to stand your ground in a disagreement. You’ve listened reflectively, tried “Help me understand . . .” (see THIS blog post). But, there is a line in the sand you don’t want to cross. Below are some phrases to use. Use a respectful and measured tone of voice when using the following phrases. Some of […]
Tackling Tough Investor Comments: 20+ Approaches for Startup Founders
Are you seeking investors for a startup business? Are you concerned about how to deal with their tough comments and demands? Tough comments require a soft but firm approach! And you need to have effective phrases ready to go! Below are a few general approaches and several specific responses for common situations. GENERAL APPROACHES Here […]
Think Fast, Speak Smart! Free Online Workshop
Join me May 17, 2023 (1-2 PM Central Time) for an interactive, online workshop all about having fun while learning ways to improve your communication skills. Through warm-up activities to loosen your tongue, short improv-style games, prompts to create stories and work on transitions, and message clarity exercises, you can improve the following communication skills: […]
Top 7 Most-Desired Public Speaking Skills
Do you relate to these public speaking concerns? In the video below, I address the top 7 responses to my recent survey question, What do you most want to improve in public speaking skills?
What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You . . . A Better Leader!
As I lay on my back on the hard, cold snow of the sledding hill on January 21st my first thought was, “I hope I didn’t break my back.” I had just landed hard after accidentally launching my sled over a snow jump I hadn’t seen in time. As it turned out, I had broken my […]
How to Politely Interrupt Someone
As seen in FastCompany Few people appreciate being interrupted. It can be viewed as rude, sending a signal that what they’re saying isn’t important. While talking over people when they are speaking should be avoided, sometimes it’s necessary, says Diane Windingland, owner of Virtual Speech Coach and author of Impromptu Speaking: 10 Strategies to Think on […]
“I Learned More from My Failures”: My Public Speaking Journey
Impromptu Speaking Book only $0.99 through 2/21/23
“Not only will this book help people improve their public speaking, readers will also improve their personal communications. I particularly liked the chapters on handling difficult situations. Diane offers terrific tips to deal with real-world examples. This book is a must-read for anyone who talks to people — which is everyone!”–Dan Janal “This book provides […]
4 Ways AI Can Improve Your Presentations
Is there anything AI can’t do? Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated the picture at the top, with the prompt, “A cute dog speaking at a conference, digital art.” AI even helped me write this article, in which I give you 4 easy ways that AI can improve your presentations and public speaking skills. The 4 ways […]