Stop Rambling in Interviews: Use CARB
Beyond STAR: Use CARB to Answer Behavior-Based Interview Questions with Business Impact Most professionals know they should prepare stories for an interview. They also know they will probably hear questions like: “Tell me about a time you handled a challenge at work.” “Describe a time you had a conflict with a coworker, manager, or client.” […]
How to Manage Emotion During a Wedding Speech
If you are worried about getting emotional during a wedding speech, you are not alone. Here are simple, practical tips to help you stay grounded, recover smoothly, and deliver your speech with sincerity and composure.
Every Talk Is Either Practice or Positioning
Most people think of presentations as something to prepare for… deliver… and move on from. A meeting.A team update.A conference talk.A Toastmasters speech. You prepare. You deliver. You check it off. And then it’s over. But there’s a different way to think about your speaking. Every talk is either practice… or positioning. What Practice Thinking […]
A Simple Structure for a Memorable Wedding Toast
If you’ve been asked to give a wedding toast, you may be feeling honored, excited, and a little nervous. That’s normal. Most people want to say something meaningful, but they worry about rambling, freezing up, or not knowing how to organize their thoughts. The good news is that a wedding toast does not need to […]
Most Speakers Focus on Their Topic. That’s the Problem.
When people prepare a presentation, they usually start with their topic. Leadership.Communication.AI.Strategy. And that makes sense. You need something to talk about. But focusing on your topic is also where many presentations start to lose impact. Because your audience isn’t there for your topic. They’re there for what the topic means for them. The Difference […]
Why Some Speakers Move Up & Others Stay Stuck
A few years ago, I was working with a client—very smart, very experienced, great at what he did. He had been in Toastmasters, had given a lot of presentations, and by most standards… he was a good speaker. He was asked to present at a leadership meeting. High visibility. Important audience. He prepared carefully. His […]
What a Memoir Prompt Taught Me About Communication
I recently tried a fun AI prompt I came across from Kim Komando. The prompt asked AI to write the opening page of my memoir, but with one important twist: don’t start with childhood. Start with a single moment that captures who I actually am. That instruction alone makes the prompt smarter than a lot […]
Executive Presence Guide
Imagine you’re leading a team meeting where a tough decision needs alignment. You’ve prepared your points, but the room feels skeptical. As you begin, your stillness—feet grounded, posture composed—signals steadiness. Your voice, paced and purposeful, conveys authority. And your eye contact, aligned with clear gestures, builds trust. This is executive presence in action. Over the […]
Win Them Back Presentation Resources
Win Them Back is a presentation designed to help Toastmasters clubs re-engage current and former members.1. PDF of the slides2. Link to the Toastmasters International Magazine March 2024 article, Win Them Back3. Handout (2 pages) for quick reference Win Them Back—and Keep Them: Retention Strategies for Ending the Year Strong Membership is the gatekeeper to […]
Your Visual Signals are Leadership Signals
Before people evaluate your ideas, they evaluate you. Not your résumé.Not your title. You. Your posture.Your eye contact.Your gestures.Your facial expressions. Leadership is seen before it is understood. In high-stakes meetings, presentations, and client conversations, visual cues shape credibility long before your message is fully processed. They’re subtle. Often unintentional. Always interpreted. Here’s what to […]