“Webinar Replay” Impromptu Speaking Workshop
I recently presented a workshop on Impromptu Speaking and many people asked me for the “Webinar Replay.” But, I hadn’t recorded it because it was actually a Zoom meeting and participants were on camera. However, the next day I recorded myself giving the workshop as a presentation and sent the video to the people who […]
Mini-Workshop: Make a Great First Impression Online
Make a great 1st impression online! Learn how in this Mini-Workshop (29 minutes). -Look Professional Online -Wield Tools of Engagement (online or in-person) -Tame the Technology Monster This presentation was in front of a live, virtual audience for PowerTalk Power Club (some of the audience interaction was edited out). RESOURCE PAGE MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO […]
10 Uses for Sticky Notes in Speaking
#1: Storyboard your speech #2: Plan your book or blog content #3: Reminders #4: Clean your keyboard #5: Brief speech notes #6: Practice eye contact #7: Stage movement #8: Mark reference to read in speech #9: Audience activities #10: Have fun! Be creative
NEW! Group Program: Virtual Presentation Success
“Thank you for the outstanding job on facilitating the Virtual Speech training. I learned multiple things, some of them I had an idea, others were new. It provided great value for our time”–training participant Live, online group training + individual coaching Download the complete program description Build fundamental skills essential to presenting in a virtual […]
The 5 Top Ways to Look Bad on Zoom
Webcam SpeechBuddy
By now you know that you make virtual eye contact by looking into the webcam lens. But, it gets tricky if you have speech notes. If your notes are too far off to the side, your darting eyes are very obvious. You can make better eye contact by having your notes near the webcam. If […]
100 Tips & Tricks to Appear Confident in Presentations: Video Summary
Public Speaking Book only $0.99 for 100 Tips!
The 100 Tips and Tricks in this book are techniques and strategies I learned through my years of presenting and coaching speakers, and now through May 8, 2020, you can get the ebook for only $0.99. Here’s a sample tip (screen shot):
Book Launch Special $0.99 thru May 8, 2020
Get your confidence on!Get my latest book, 100 Tips & Tricks to Appear Confident in Presentations: Public Speaking Success in 5 Minutes or Less! for only $0.99 for the ebook on Amazon. The paperback is $9.99. Practical, Illustrated tips, one to a page, will boost your skills and confidence! Editorial Review: An easy to read, […]
Podcast Interview: Public Speaking, Publishing, Toastmasters, Confidence + More!
CLICK HERE for my Podcast interview with Sarah CollinsTRANSCRIPT BELOW Sarah: And we are back again. I am with Diane windilling. I just totally butchered your name. Diane: You want me to give you my pronunciation? Then we can just like restart. . It’s, I’ll say it slowly first. It’s wind- een-land and then, then […]
Top-Rated Kindle Book on Public Speaking FREE until 7/11/19
For just a few days, I’m offering the Kindle version of my top-rated book on public speaking FREE–yours for the taking, but you have to nab it by 7/11/19!
Speak with Confidence and Credibility Webinar (practice session)
In this 51-minute webinar practice video (I’m giving a webinar for the TCSHRM–Twin Cities Society for Human Resource Management in a couple of weeks), you will learn 6 Power Tips to Speaking with Confidence and Credibility (it’s not perfect, but I am modeling my belief in practice & dress rehearsal!): Structure with PREP Create Catchy […]
Engage with Eye Contact (practice with a “fake” audience)
Video from my online course, No Fear Public Speaking PDF of 3 Faces for your “fake” audience (or just draw your own–you only really need eyes to look at). Learn to be a Confident Speaker! Take Diane’s Online Course, No Fear Public Speaking: Look, Sound and Feel Confident!
FREE Public Speaking Class Jan 11 (Twin Cities)
Date: Monday, January 11, 2016 Time: 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM Location: Ridgedale Library (Minnetonka, MN) Link to reserve your seat (free event presented on behalf of District 6 Toastmasters) Speak with conviction and confidence! No matter the subject, you can capture your audience’s attention and keep them engaged. In this FREE, interactive class, you […]
Familiarize. Don’t Memorize.
It was the summer of 2009 and I had eight, 45-minute presentations to memorize as a newly hired high school workshop speaker for a local college. The other new speakers and I had been given scripts for each of the presentations, with topics ranging from budgeting to sexual harassment, and had been told to follow […]
7 Tips on Using Speech Notes Effectively
One of the biggest fears that people have about public speaking is the fear of forgetting what they are going to say. Using notes can reduce that fear greatly, but at the same time create a barrier to audience engagement. Here are 7 tips on using speech notes more effectively so that you can engage and […]
Virtual Engagement: How to Sound More Conversational
How can you be more engaging and sound conversational when speaking virtually, on webinars. Skype, or conference calls? Here are a couple of low-cost tips:1. Look into the webcam while speaking. It’s not so easy, but here is a low-cost, low-tech solution to encourage you to look into the web cam: a “Webcam Buddy,” a face […]
Free ebook for Summer Reading: 12 Ways to Be a Confident Speaker
Learn some public speaking skills this summer! This week your free ebook is 12 Ways to Be a Confident Speaker. Get your free Kindle version (US link, Canadian link, UK link) It’s free on Kindle through Saturday, June 21, 2014. You will learn how to: –Speak with Passion –Focus on the Audience –Know Your Material –Use Notes Sparingly –Speak Conversationally […]
Free ebook for Summer Reading: Public Speaking Lessons from TED Talks
Learn some public speaking skills this summer! This week and next, I am giving you free ebooks on public speaking (next week is “12 Ways to Be a Confident Speaker”). Get your free Kindle version (US link, Canadian link, UK link) of the short e-book, Public Speaking Lessons from TED Talks: The Good and the Bad from the 10 Most-Viewed […]
Virtual Communication Skills–Bridging the Digital Divide (Video)
Virtual communication, communication using technology to communicate across continents, cultures, languages and time-zones, is quickly becoming the norm. You can discover practical methods for collaborating and presenting virtually in the video below (34 min, presentation given at a conference at the University of Copenhagen last month–don’t worry, only my speaker introduction is in Danish).Ready. Set. […]
Be a Confident Speaker: Recorded Interview
Grab a cup of coffee, sit back and learn my top tips for being a confident speaker! Last week, Regina Barr, Founder of Women at the Top, interviewed me as part of her “Author Interview” series on how to be a confident speaker, based on my book, 12 Ways to Be a Confident Speaker. Here are the […]
Improve Your Speaking with Improv
Aside from participating in Toastmasters, the most beneficial activity I have done to improve my speaking was to take a couple of improv classes several years ago. The idea of speaking without preparation may be terrifying to you. It’s still not my favorite thing to do, but practicing improv in class, in Toastmasters and even […]
FREE KINDLE BOOK until 11/16: 12 Ways to Be a Confident Speaker
If you’ve enjoyed my recent tips on becoming a more confident speaker, you will want to get your FREE Kindle book, 12 Ways to Be a Confident Speaker. But, hurry! The book is only free through Saturday (and after that, it is available for only $2.99–It’s a short book!) And, I have a BIG favor to ask you! Will […]
Nuts to Notes?
Have you ever given a prepared speech without notes? I remember the first time I did–it was for a Toastmasters speech contest. I was nervous that I’d blank out, or that I wouldn’t say exactly what I had so carefully crafted on paper. It was only a 5-7 minute speech, and I didn’t win the contest, […]
How to Smile More During Your Presentation
“When I see pictures or video of myself speaking, I look mean! Frankly, I look like a bitch,” said my new presentation client. “I smile in conversation, when I’m off stage, but I don’t smile enough during my presentations. What can I do?” My client clearly knew the value of connecting with her audience through […]
Speak Conversationally
Have you ever given a prepared speech that fell flat? Have you gone into “speaker mode?” Has your speech felt a little stilted? Been there. Done that. A couple of years ago, I watched a video of myself in “speaker mode” or “performance mode” and I cringed. I had all the right elements: Carefully crafted […]
Why Do Some Speakers OWN the Stage? Tips from a Champ!
In August 2001, out of 25,000 contestants from 14 countries, Darren LaCroix (above in blue shirt) was crowned the 2001 World Champion of Public Speaking. Last Thursday, Darren came to Minnesota and presented “Own the Stage Coaching” and I furiously took brief notes to share them with you (OK, I really took them for myself). Let’s […]
How to Be a More Confident Speaker in 10 Seconds
You know your message. You know your audience. You’ve practiced. Now, it’s show-time! How can you bolster your self-confidence in the few seconds before you speak? Even as you are walking up to deliver your opening lines? I believe that confidence level can be affected by changing how you act, how you feel and what […]
How to Self-Evaluate Your Speech
Do you want to greatly improve your presentations? I could just say, “hire me,” but you can improve your presentations all on your own, too. You can self-evaluate. A good self-evaluation is a journey of awareness. A great self-evaluation is one that starts with preparation and planning well before you give your speech. To prepare […]
Never Forget Another Speech: Speech Memorization Techniques
I think the biggest reason that people fear public speaking is that they are afraid of opening their mouths and “blanking out” or sounding stupid. Some people even try to memorize their speeches. Right off, you should know that I’m not a big fan of speeches that are memorized word-for-word. I’ve tried it and found […]
Speaking from Notes: The Keyword Method
Which category do you fall under, when it comes to using notes for a speech: 1. The Forgetter. You are afraid you are going to forget what you want to say, so you use notes. 2. The Writer. You worked hard to get your wording just so and want to say it just like you […]
The Eyes Have It: How to Improve Eye Contact When Giving a Speech
Eye contact is the number one way to increase your engagement with an audience. A few additional benefits include: Increased credibility (people who don’t make eye contact seem nervous and possibly dishonest) Reduction in crutch words (um, uh, er). I’ve noticed that people are more likely to use crutch words when they look up or […]