My Journey From Engineer to Eloquence: Speaking, Coaching, Authoring
Podcaster, author, and legal coach Nadia Seklig interviews author and communication coach Diane Windingland as she shares her journey from engineer to professional speech coach and author of 10+ books. She discusses overcoming fear, Toastmasters, self-publishing, using AI tools for coaching and writing, and practical habits to become a confident speaker. 00:00:08 Introduction to Diane […]
Using AI to Build a “Knowledge Bridge” (and Why the Prompt Matters)
If you’ve ever thought, “I’d use AI more… if I knew what to ask,” you’re not alone. Good results start with better prompts, and that’s exactly why I created The Clarity Code AI Prompt PowerPack. Clear prompts lead to clear thinking, clearer messages, and much better output. What surprises people is how dramatically the results […]
How to Communicate Complex Ideas with Clarity
In my latest book, The Clarity Code, I help you enhance your communication efforts with practical tips on how to convey a clearer message. Listen to this podcast interview to discover some valuable clarifying tips and learn more about the book. Get the The Clarity Code on Amazon!
Confusion to Clarity: Mastering the Art of Analogies
Have you ever tried explaining a concept and been met with blank stares? Maybe you’re a leader, trainer, coach—or just someone who needs to make the complex sound simple. And despite your best efforts, your audience looks confused. You know the feeling: polite nods, vacant eyes, maybe even a quick glance at a phone. That’s […]
How to Create a Killer Keynote
If you’ve ever wanted to captivate a room with your words, impel your audience to action, and maybe even get paid to speak, you need a speech that engages. You need to create a Killer Keynote. In the video below, excerpted from a longer workshop, you will learn the steps to create YOUR Killer Keynote. […]
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 […]
My Favorite Public Speaking Tip
There is one public speaking tip that has improved my public speaking more than any other, and I talked about it on a recent podcast (only 54 seconds long!) This tip is the first of 100 tips from my book, 100 Tips & Tricks to Appear Confident in Presentations.
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 […]
How to Create a Memorable Story in Your Presentation
Stories will engage your audience, connecting with their emotions and memory. The video below, recorded as part of a live online workshop, demonstrates the power of story to connect with memory, and then gives you a structure to follow to create your own stories, especially business stories. Some helpful visuals from the presentation: Create a […]
The 5 Top Ways to Look Bad on Zoom
5 Reasons Why Professional Speakers Should Join a Toastmasters Club
As a professional speaker, I value my membership in Toastmasters, a world-wide organization dedicated to empowering individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Toastmasters can help you build confidence in front of a low-risk, supportive audience and provides several benefits for you as a professional speaker. Participation in Toastmasters gives you opportunities to: Try out new […]
Make Your Presentation a HOME RUN!
Do you want to have a “home run” with your presentation? Or, better yet, do you want to “hit it out of the ballpark”? If so, tailor your presentation to your audience. It doesn’t matter if you have the most polished delivery skills, or the most moving stories, if you don’t connect with your audience, […]
“Alexa, open Presentation Checklist!”
Have you experienced the agony of forgetting to bring or do something prior to an important presentation? Don’t let it happen again! Just say, “Alexa, open Presentation Checklist! It’s a free “Blueprints” Skill. I demo it in the video below.
Create Multiple Streams of Income from Repositioning Content
(transcript of video): As a speaker, an author, or a coach, would you like to create something where you get paid again and again on the same content? You can do that in many ways by repositioning and repurposing content such as blog content. I’ll give you an example of something I did this summer. […]
Practice Your Presentation Like a Pro
When it comes to public speaking, does practice make perfect? No. Practice makes permanent. Practicing reinforces behavior patterns—right or wrong. A few ill-advised, but common practice methods: ● Repetitively reading a presentation, trying to memorize exact wording. Attempting to memorize the exact wording of your speech not only is very time-consuming, but also can lead to […]
Checklists Reduce Speech Disasters
The meeting planner had a panicked look on her face as she frantically searched through her bag in the hall outside the main conference room I had just finished speaking in. There were 5 minutes left before the next speaker. “Is something wrong?” I asked. “The remote is dead.” The presentation remote had worked fine […]
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!
10 Ways to Create a Confident Mindset for Speaking
Confident Mindset (prints well in color or gray scale) You look confident. You sound confident. You’ve practiced. Beyond that, confidence is mostly a mind-set. Below are 10 ways you can create a successful confident mindset the day you speak: Believe that you have something of value to offer. Imagine giving your audience a gift and visualize […]
Rev and Temi: Transcription Services Review
Want to create content fast? Use a transcription service to turn audio into written documents: Interviews Podcast transcription Speeches Book content Blogs Thought capture Recently, I “debriefed” myself on an important meeting using the native voice recorder on my iPhone, thinking I would use the recording to create a “highlights” document from the 7-minute recording. […]
10 Ways to Make a “Boring” Workshop Topic Exciting
Have you ever wondered how to create engagement for a “dry” or “boring” topic? Recently, at the end of a 90-minute workshop I conducted on “Email Etiquette,” for a staff development day for an online public school (on-site meeting), the principal walked up to me with a big smile on his face, “I wondered how you could make […]
Speaking of . . . Wardrobe Malfunctions
As I sat down in my seat at the conference, I glanced down and noticed that one of my buttons was unbuttoned on the front of my shirt. Not a big deal, right? Well, all I could think of was “how long has that been unbuttoned?” and, “I should have worn a nicer bra!” 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 […]
Not Just the Facts, Ma’am
“I just want to get the facts, ma’am,” Joe Friday (actor Jack Webb) famously implored when questioning women in the old TV police show, Dragnet. Joe Friday might have just wanted the facts, but your audience wants more. Sure, they want to know your material, but they also want to know you. They want to connect […]
Engage with Passion
My husband and I recently had a photo shoot with our 4 grandchildren. As you can see from the above photo with two of them, this was not the typical posed photo shoot. It was wild, with an overwhelmed 17-month old, who had just arrived with her mother from New York that day, almost-3-year-old twins […]
Use a Phone Tripod Mount for Better Video
For a speaking engagement in Houston that I’m speaking at today, the meeting planner asked for a short promo video, which I shot with my iPhone and sent to her. She was thrilled with it, but I was less so. I had just held the phone up and did a “selfie” video. Apparently I can’t […]
The App I Use in Almost Every Presentation
The app I use in almost every presentation is . . . a clock app. All it does is tell the time in really BIG digits. That’s all I want it to do. When you are presenting as a keynote speaker, or doing a breakout session or a workshop, the ending time of the presentation is what […]
Sample Professional Speaker Marketing Letter to Associations
Have you ever thought about sending out a mailing to associations to market your speaking? Yesterday, I sent a mailing out, marketing my speaking business to about 65 professional associations/association management companies in the state. I decided to go bold and included the “Easy Button” graphic in the cover letter (my mailing included a cover […]
Release Your Story with Right-Placed Details
How many triangles are there in the illustration below? Don’t read further until you answer that question. Two? Eight? More? Note that I didn’t ask, “How many triangles do you see in the illustration?” How many are there actually? The correct answer is “zero.” There are only V shapes and 3 Pac-Men type figures. At […]
How to Make a Boring Topic More Interesting
“You can talk about ‘Succession Planning’” said the person in charge of the conference. My first thought was Ugh! That sounds boring! Fortunately, the allotted time for the topic was only 5-7 minutes early in the morning and the audience was a couple hundred positive Toastmaster club officers. I challenged myself to deliver useful content, […]
The Best Self-Evaluation Tool in Speaking
You probably already have the best self-evaluation tool in speaking . . . your cell phone (or tablet), assuming you can use it to take videos.Last week, I held a presentation skills workshop for a small group, in which each of the six participants gave a 5-7 minute speech, which I video-recorded on my iPad. Immediately […]
Presentation Skills from a Tour Guide in Mexico
I just returned from a vacation to Cancun, Mexico, where I enjoyed fun, food and . . . learning presentation skills from unlikely sources: timeshare sellers, tour promoters, street vendors, restaurant servers and a tour guide! It was the tour guide at the Mayan ruins, Chichen Itza (the picture above, using an app called Waterlogue) […]
Have You Updated Your Head Shot?
Have you updated your professional head shot? If your head shot is more than two to three years old, I urge you to gift yourself some new business pictures! This is doubly true if you are the image of your business, such as is the case for professional speakers. Above I have the 4 main […]
Gift Books for Presenters
With the holidays fast approaching, you may want to gift yourself a book on public speaking skills. I’ve read many books on public speaking, but only a few more than once. Consider adding to your library (physical or ebook) one of the 5 books on public speaking that I own and have read more than […]
Create Content Experts in 20 Minutes
Workshops are designed to give people practical takeaways, but all too often, there is just too much content to cover. Of course, the easiest solution is to reduce the content, but sometimes the content to be covered is prescribed, such as training employees on new methods and procedures or, covering all the officer duties for […]
It’s the Debriefing that Matters!
The first question was “How do you feel?” Smug. That’s how I felt when I watched two people bid on a $10 bill. The “winning” bid was $34. Human nature is so predictable! You may be thinking, What? $34 for a $10 bill. What’s wrong with that picture? The “$10 Auction” was an activity during a […]
The Call-Back: A Comedy Technique for Speeches
Would you like a simple speech technique that will create a closer connection with your audience, help them remember your material, and possibly get a laugh? Try using the “call-back.” The call-back is a stand-up comedy term that means to refer to an earlier joke that got a laugh. For example, at a recent Humor […]
Golden Opportunities for Speech Material
I was minding my own business, reviewing my speech notes at a high top table on the ground floor of the RiverCentre Convention Center last week. In a few minutes, I would be heading upstairs to the ballroom to deliver the closing keynote for an association conference. A scruffy-looking man reeking of alcohol approached me. […]
Tailoring a Keynote: Making the Material Connect
People in your audiences want to feel special, to feel that you understand them and their needs. You can create a presentation that connects with a particular audience by tailoring your existing content to connect with them. Would you like to “look behind the curtain” and see my process? It may give you some ideas […]
6 Ways to Use a Flip Chart in Training
Flip charts are a fun, engaging way to provide participant involvement that leads to understanding and retention. Last week I attended a two-day Bob Pike Group “Train-the-Trainer” Boot Camp seminar and learned several easy ways to incorporate the use of a flip chart in training. Six of my favorites were: Ground Rules Road Map Agenda […]
The Secret Memory Booster in Public Speaking
Would you like to know one technique that can help you better: learn your presentation? remember your presentation? facilitate your audience’s learning and recall of your material? Yes? The powerful technique is to use body movement and gestures. Perhaps you may recall learning gestures to a song as a child, or helping children learn something […]
A Winning Speech Structure: 1-3-1
“Life’s . . . a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” These are the despairing words uttered by Shakespeare’s Macbeth, after hearing of Lady Macbeth’s death. I’ve often thought they could apply to some speeches I’ve heard. Sitting in the audience, I’ve despaired over the loss of my time, […]
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 […]
What Do Your Shoes Say?
Maybe I have a shoe fetish. No. I only own about 15 or so pairs of shoes. But, am I the only one who notices a presenter’s shoes? I don’t just notice them; I am distracted by them. Lately, I’ve been distracted by some poor shoe choices on the platform–mostly by aspiring professional speakers. Why? […]
Back to “School” for Speakers!
It’s back to school time for kids, but what about you? Are you taking intentional steps to improve your speaking skills, to start a speaking business or to grow your speaking business? While there are excellent books on speaking skills and on building a speaking business (one of my favorite is World Class Speaking by […]
Tailoring Your Presentation to the Audience
Even if you have a “canned” presentation, you will want to tailor it for each audience, to better connect and engage the participants, and to specifically address topics related to your presentation that the meeting planner deems important. Through a discovery process of asking questions of the meeting planner and of conducting short, informational interviews […]
Working with the Meeting Planner: The Pre-Program Questionnaire
If you want to hit a “home run” at a speaking event– to engage your audience and to please the meeting planner–start your preparation with a pre-program questionnaire. Elements should include: Contact person information, including a cell phone number Meeting details: date, time, place, length of program, what’s before and after Audience demographics (number in […]
Get More Testimonials with LinkedIn (Ask for Recommendations!)
If you want to increase the likelihood of getting hired as a speaker, testimonials can make a difference! Whether you are speaking for free or for fee, you can ask people to give you testimonials. Video testimonials are great, when you can get them, but you can also use written testimonials. I’ve found it highly […]
3 PowerPoint Photo Tips (Video)
You can take your PowerPoint slides from ordinary to awesome with 3 simple tips shown in this video (4:22): 1. Make your picture BIG! 2. Remove the picture background 3. Match the font of your text to a color in the picture Bonus Tip: If you want to grab the colors from something online, you can […]
Using Quotes in PowerPoint–Video
You get two tips today! Tip #1: Make your quotes look better in PowerPoint. Click below to see the 4-minute Jing video I made on using quotations in PowerPoint: BonusTip #2: Create short videos to explain “how to.” For the above video, I used Jing, a free screen capture tool. Not all of your presentations may be […]
Persuasive Speech Structures
In a recent discussion on the Official Toastmasters International Members Group Facebook Page, member Merv Olsen, asked “What are your thoughts on the ‘Monroe Motivated Sequence’ approach to persuasive speaking?” You might think that this question doesn’t apply to you because you don’t give persuasive speeches. Don’t be too quick to dismiss. Ultimately, almost every […]
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. […]
Content vs. Delivery: Which is More Important?
Some people say, “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it,” regarding the relative importance of content vs. delivery in a presentation. Is delivery more important than content? My most recent experience as a presenter at a conference at the University of Copenhagen on Virtual Communication (the conference title was “You Lost Me […]
PowerPoint on iPhone or iPad: Practice and Present
If you have an iPhone or an iPad and you do PowerPoint presentations, you will want to get the free SlideShark app. I’ve used it on my iPad to do one-on-one presentations and I’ve also used it on my phone to practice presentations. You can also broadcast your presentation to the web and connect your […]
Is Communication Really 93% Non-Verbal?
Have you heard these statistics?: “Effective communication is only 7 percent verbal and 93 percent non-verbal (the non-verbal is 55 percent body language and 38 percent tone of voice). They are often accompanied by a PowerPoint pie chart: Maybe you have even quoted those statistics. I’ve heard so many speakers quote those numbers (including a […]
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 […]
Don’t Risk a Bad Start: Bring Your Speaker Introduction
Your speaker introduction is an important part of your presentation. It should get the audience leaning forward with anticipation of the topic and also set up your credibility (here’s a post on how to write your speaker introduction). Unless you have a video of your introduction played just prior to your presentation (which can be […]
Writing and Publishing Ebooks for Speakers
It was July 30, 2010 and I sat across from Mark LeBlanc, a business consultant and former National Speaker Association National president. He looked at me with his hound dog eyes and said, “You need to write a book. And you can do it next month” It wasn’t a suggestion. It was a “demandment.” I […]
Free ebook–Public Speaking Lessons from TED Talks
Free until Saturday, March 8, 2014 Get your free Kindle version of the short e-book, Public Speaking Lessons from TED Talks: The Good and the Bad from the 10 Most-Viewed TED Talks Imagine giving a powerful, TEDTalk-Style Presentation. You can learn insightful tips from this ebook, a compilation my past 10 posts on the top 10 most-viewed TED Talks. The […]
Speaking Tips from TEDTalk #2: How Great Leaders Inspire Action (Simon Sinek)
TEDTalk Countdown: the #2 most-watched video on TED. Video and Transcript The Big Idea: People don’t buy what you do. They buy why you do it. The overall construct of the speech: Persuasive, using logic, research and anecdotes Not perfect: His opening rhetorical question took me off-track at the start. “How do you explain when things […]
Speaking Tips from TEDTalk #7: Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are (Amy Cuddy)
Video and transcript here The Big Idea: Amy Cuddy shares how “power posing,” standing or sitting in a posture of confidence, even when you don’t feel confident, can affect testosterone (dominance hormone) and cortisol (stress hormone) levels in the body, causing you to feel and be perceived as more confident. It’s not “fake it till […]
Speaking Tips from TEDTalk #9: The SixthSense Interaction (Pattie Maes)
Video and transcript here The Big Idea: An inexpensive, wearable device (SixthSense) can interact with our environment to give us easy access to relevant information to help us make better decisions. The overall construct of the speech: A demonstration, mostly via video. The demonstration was of a device that functioned somewhat like Google Glass, but […]
Speaking Tips from TED Talk #10 The Puzzle of Motivation (Dan Pink)
This is the first in a series of 10 posts, looking at the public speaking lessons from each of the top 10-most viewed TED Talks. Dan Pink: The Puzzle of Motivation video and transcript here The Big Idea: Science has proven what business is only slowly realizing: Using incentives as rewards in business doesn’t work […]
Preview: Public Speaking Tips from the Top 10 TEDTalks
Short, but powerful talks. Although typically fewer than 18 minutes long, TEDTalks pack a punch: unique ideas presented with passion. Inspired by a recent NSA-MN Chapter meeting speaker, Hayley Foster, who spoke about creating TED-style talks (post here), I decided that I (and you) could probably learn some public speaking tips from TEDTalks. For the […]
How to Create a TED-Style Talk: Advice from an Expert
Imagine standing on a TED stage, sharing your passion with the world. Maybe that’s not your dream. But, wouldn’t you like to have a powerful, TED-like presentation? TED-style talks aren’t just for TED events. They are becoming more popular at conferences, too. On Tuesday, the Minnesota Chapter of the National Speakers Association hosted a presentation […]
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 […]
How to Prevent Speech Disasters
You’ve seen it happen. Maybe it’s happened to you. The microphone cuts out. The PowerPoint slides don’t work. Your presentation time gets cut. Can you recover when things go wrong in a speech? Can you plan ahead to manage the risk? Yes and yes. The 3 key ways to reduce risk: Checklists, Dress Rehearsal, and […]
The Pause that Refreshes
Don’tyouhateitwhenspeakersneverpause? Pausing is to speaking as punctuation is to writing. Both enhance comprehension. Pausing is perhaps even more important because a live audience can’t go back and re-listen the same way a reader can go back and re-read. Pausing increases comprehension in several ways. Pausing: Reduces the overall rate of speaking Gives the audience time […]
Talk from Your Belly Button: Project Your Voice
“Your carefully chosen phrases will be meaningless,” I told my presentation client, “if no one hears you.” My soft-spoken client was preparing for an important presentation and we were doing a rehearsal in the large meeting room where it would be held. I sat near the front. I sat near the back. I tried to […]
Smile! Don’t be a Stiff Presenter!
Which person’s presentation would you rather attend? This person’s presentation? Or, this person’s presentation? In the top picture, I am displaying my neutral face. I am neither happy nor sad. But don’t I look a little sad, maybe even angry? I also look every one of my 51 years. Gravity is starting to give me […]
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, […]
Speak with Confidence: You’re An Expert
Have you ever felt like a fraud? An impostor? Many years ago, when I was a new engineer, I felt that way. I was assigned to work on a special project, part of a much larger effort. The other engineers all knew more than I did. So did the guys in the shop. Even the […]
Public Speaking 101: Top Online Resources
Masters in Communication has laid a feast of the top online public speaking tips before you! Click here for the top 101 online resources in public speaking! This blog is #28!
It’s Not All About You: Focus on the Audience
Kaylee’s fear of public speaking was so great that she would get migraine headaches just contemplating giving a prepared speech. Kaylee, a student in my homeschool speech class last year, managed to stumble through the impromptu speaking portion of class, and was able to offer oral evaluations of other students’ speeches. But, because her fear […]
Speak with Confidence: How to Speak with Passion
Mr. Murdoch eyes shined when he talked about the periodic table of the elements. Clearly, my high school chemistry teacher was passionate about chemistry, and even more passionate that his students understand the subject. Mr. Murdoch’s zeal for science was so contagious that I not only went on to take two more classes from him […]
10 Ways Professional Speaking is Different than Toastmasters
Have you thought about becoming a professional speaker–speaking as a way to share your expertise, or your inspiration? Perhaps you are a Toastmaster and have wondered how being a professional speaker is different than being a Toastmaster. I’ve been a Toastmaster for ten years, and a professional speaker for two. Here are the top […]
Improve Your Image, Improve Your Business
People form first impressions in a fraction of a second. Before you say a word, your image speaks volumes. You can go to this website to improve your marketing tenfold but this will only help so much if you’re not providing a very good first impression when you speak to your clients. You could generate […]
What do Speakers Bureaus, Speakers Agents and Meeting Planners Want?
A speakers bureau representative, a speakers agent and an meeting planner walk into a bar . . . No joking! Wouldn’t you like to get some of the inside speaking biz scoop from that trio? Meeting planners often work with speakers bureaus and speakers agents because they know about the speakers and can save meeting […]
YOLO Speaking
YOLO, an acronym that’s been popular among mostly younger people for the past year or so, stands for “You Only Live Once.” It seems to be an excuse for risky behavior. Have they forgotten you actually get to live every day, but you only die once? The sentiment is a recent version of “Carpe Diem.” […]
Speech prop idea: Balloons
The full-size red ladder was an impressive prop. It was unique and it helped make the speaker’s point that to have a competitive advantage you not only have to be better you have to be different. Props can differentiate you as a speaker, making you and your concepts more memorable, giving you that competitive advantage. […]
Can They Hear You Now?
You’ve spent hours perfecting your presentation. You have crafted engaging content. You have practiced your delivery. You will have wasted your time if your audience can’t hear you. Three of the top reasons that the audience might not hear you are: Inadequate amplification (or distorted amplification) Background noise Hearing impairment Inadequate amplification Many speakers think […]
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 […]
Smile More to Persuade
With very little effort, you can become a more persuasive speaker. It’s as simple as smiling more. Even the shortest of exposures to a smiling face can influence decisions. In a research project discussed in Francesca Gino’s recent book, Sidetracked: Why Our Decisions Get Derailed, and How We Can Stick to the Plan, college students […]
Why Do Some Speakers Shine and Others Choke?
Do you want to shine in front of an audience? To perform at your best? Imagine that you have been a public speaker for 10 years and that you are about to speak in front of a large audience. Do you think your performance will be enhanced or worsened compared to when you practiced alone? […]
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 […]
The Goldmine in Your Backyard: Turn Your Speeches into Blogs, Books and More!
Don’t let your speech be a “one and done” event. Multiply your efforts with multiple channels of distribution by re-purposing your speeches into blog posts, articles, books and more. By re-purposing your speech content, you can establish yourself as a subject matter expert, and earn additional income from speeches you’ve already written, or will write. […]
Does Your Presentation Pass the Hallway Test?
Imagine for a moment that you and I work in the same office building. One day, as I am passing you in the hallway, I look at you and say, “How many of you have ever eaten at Arby’s?” How would you react? Would you, confused, turn around to see if I was talking to […]
Easy PowerPoint Principles for Leaders Webinar
Don’t let your PowerPoint presentations be the cure for insomnia! In this one-hour webinar on PowerPoint (originally presented on 4/9/2013 for Executive Women International), you will: Learn how to plan your presentation Discover 4 easy design principles Learn a few tips and tricks Learn how to deliver with confidence Webinar (one-hour) slides only Click on […]
How to Be an Authentic Speaker: Keep It Real
At a recent Toastmaster contest, a young man told a story from his childhood, one in which he was left home alone one day while his mother, a single parent, went to work. My heart went out to him. When the winners of the contest were announced, he didn’t win, but several supporters congratulated him […]
Speaker Introductions: Get Your Audience Leaning Forward Before You Speak
“H-e-r-e-‘s Johnny!” Ed McMahon’s introduction of Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show was probably the shortest but one of the most famous introductions in entertainment. Usually, introductions need to be a little longer. Introductions fuse 3 elements: the subject, the audience and the speaker. The introduction brings together those elements and serves as a bridge, a […]
Take Your Speaking from FREE to FEE: How to Speak at Rotary Clubs
One organization that needs speakers almost every week, for 20-30 minute presentations, is Rotary International. Rotary is a service organization with more than 1.2 members world wide. You won’t get paid to speak, but you will get great experience and you may make contacts that result in paid engagements. When I was just starting out, I […]
The #1 Rule for Speakers and Meeting Planners
I’ll be brief. Don’t go over time. Or, as Winston Churchill might have put it: Never speak too long. Never speak too long. Never speak too long. But, it’s not always about ending your speech within the allotted time, sometimes it’s about ending on time. One of the questions I ask in my pre-program questionnaire […]
7 Days, 42+ Speeches: Differentiate or Die
Differentiate or Die. With all the speakers out there, you need to be different to stand out and be remembered. Ideally, you would have a unique presentation on a unique topic. That’s the number one thing I learned last week when I listened to 42+ speeches in 7 days. Live. And, I analyzed and wrote […]
How to Write an Inspiring Speech
When I was 17, at the start of my senior year of high school, my parents got a divorce. Not only did their marriage crumble, but so did my hopes of college. How would I ever pay for it? I descended to the valley of despair. And then one day, waiting at the dentist, I […]
Killer Keynote Speech Structure
Want a solid way to structure a keynote presentation that will be memorable and get you asked to come back? Click this link for a pdf of the diagram below: Killer Keynote Structure Do you need to create a presentation in a hurry? Do you want a repeatable method for presentation creation. Sign up for […]
Beyond Keynotes and Breakouts: Leveraging Your Time and Content
If you are reading this, you may have thought you might like to make money speaking professionally (if you are not already a professional speaker). However, even the busiest speaker can only speak at so many engagements. How can you leverage your time and content? Below are some ideas. I’d love to hear some of […]
The Book-It Method: Write a Speech by Looking at a Book
Do you need inspiration for your presentation topic? A quick way to select your main points and get that speech written? Try the method that I call, The Book-it Method. In short, you take a look at the table of contents of books on the subject matter you want to speak on. Preferably, the books […]
Post-It Note Speech Planning
Use the lowly sticky note to bring your presentations to new heights! The little squares of paper can help you design a presentation for maximum effectiveness, while allowing the flexibility of changing your mind and trying out new approaches. 1. Brainstorm with sticky notes. This can be done alone or in a group. You can […]
How to Adjust Your Speech When Your Allotted Time Changes
As the time for his speech to end came and went, the well-known, retired news anchor showed no signs of closing. My speaking slot was after his, and it was apparent I wasn’t going to get the full 60 minutes I had been asked to prepare for. Five minutes. Ten minutes. Finally, at 15 minutes […]
Speaker Checklist for the Day of the Event
The day of a speaking event can get hectic, so I use a checklist to make sure I don’t forget something critical! Speaker Checklist: Confirm time/location/agenda/AV set up Presentation Notes Equipment (computer, cords, remote, flash drive, etc.) Clothing (jacket on hanger), back-up clothing Introduction (for person introducing you—large font, name phonetically spelled) Cell phone Contact […]
Transitions in Your Speech Bridge the Gap
Transitions help your speech flow smoothly as one unified, coherent presentation. They link from one part of your speech to the next. A transition can be as simple as an extended pause. That’s right. Silence. Just be silent for a couple of beats and then go to your next point. You can accompany “movement” to […]
Help Me Write a Book on Public Speaking
Would you like to have input into a book on public speaking? What are the things you really want to know? What do you wish you knew earlier? I’m actually thinking of getting a quick Kindle book out in about a week or so using mostly a selection of my 2012 speaking tips that you have […]
Be an Audience Magnet with One Simple Act
Do you want to be a people-magnet when you speak? Did you know there is one thing that you can do that will increase your trust-level, likeability, perceived confidence (and competence) and your attractiveness? That one thing is to smile–your genuine smile! Smiling can reduce the levels of stress hormones and increase the levels of […]
Create Your Killer Keynote in a Day!
“Diane pointed out several things that will help me engage my audience better, while communicating the topic more thoroughly. She offered great insight into both the delivery of the speech and the structure so that my audience hears a clear call to action.“~Bill Svoboda, owner Coed Monkey Create a Keynote Speech in a Day Workshop […]
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 […]
Grab Your Audience! 3 P’s of Speech Introductions
Do you want to hook your audience right at the start of your speech? Do you want to have them leaning forward with interest? Do you want to have an approach to introductions that you can apply to many speeches? Today you will learn an effective, time-tested pattern for speech introductions that will grab your […]
Opening and Closing your Speech with Jokes
Wouldn’t you love to get your audience laughing at the start of your speech or leave them laughing at the end? Jokes can do the job, but use them with caution! If you are using someone else’s material, you need to give credit. The joke needs to be relevant to your presentation (I hate it […]
Stories: Opening and Closing Your Speech with a Story
Stories are my personal favorite way to open a speech. Stories touch our emotions and linger in our mind. Stories are a powerful way to captivate and connect. Stories captivate us because we think in stories. We can’t help it! “Stories fill our lives in the way that water fills the lives of fish.”~Steve Denning […]
How to Use Quotes and Poems to Open and Close Your Speech
The audience gazed in anticipation as I stood before them holding a large black cloth draped over my arm. Then I threw the black cloth over my head. After a brief pause, I quoted the opening lines of an Emily Dickinson poem: “I’m nobody. Who are you? Are you nobody, too?” I then paused, and […]
Instant Teleseminar on Business Storytelling
“Get Naked” Business Storytelling for Leaders: For Stronger, Memorable Communication and Presentations On Demand Learning–Learn at your convenience! Download the presentation and materials to learn on your own schedule! (if you want to “attend” at noon on a Wednesday, you can, but you don’t have to!) Would you like your message to be remembered and repeated? […]
Wake Up Your Audience with Startling Statements
Bambi vs. Jaws. No contest on which is deadlier, right? It’s . . . Bambi. A deer is 20 times more likely to kill you than a shark. Every year in the United States, deer-car collisions kill more than 200 people. The above startling statement, especially if accompanied by a visual, could open a presentation […]
Extra: Resources for Aspiring Professional Speakers
There are a lot of resources for aspiring professional speakers! Here are a few of my favorites: Favorite Professional Development (mostly Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN area): 1. Toastmasters, a world wide organization dedicated to leadership and communication developmentPowerTalk Toastmasters, a monthly Toastmaster club specifically for Professional and Aspiring Professional Speakers. I’m a member of this club […]