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 […]
Talk Like Trump
Love him or hate him, you can still learn from him. Sometimes, it’s what NOT to do, but in the case of his 2nd Inaugural address, Trump had some eloquent moments (I’m guessing he had a good speech writer). In the short video (1:29) below, you can see two examples of effective rhetoric, using parallel […]
Unlock the Power of Persuasion: 7 Proven Strategies to Gain Clients and Members
Persuasion is a cornerstone of human interaction. Whether you’re seeking to grow your client base or attract new members to your organization, the ability to persuade can transform your results. But how can you harness the power of persuasion effectively and ethically? The answer lies in the principles of influence, masterfully outlined by Dr. Robert […]
Lessons Learned from a Jamaican Hustler
All we wanted to do was find some hearing aid batteries. We did that, but we had a bonus adventure, and I learned a few persuasion techniques from a savvy street hustler in Jamaica. Last month, one of the last ports on a cruise with my husband, Kim, was Ocho Rios, Jamaica. After a relaxing […]
4 Ways Female Leaders Can Grow Their Confidence In & Out of the Workplace
Regardless of whether you’re working in-person or remotely, a major key to succeeding in these environments is confidence. Similarly, self-esteem is also important for personal growth, development and fulfillment. While some may be born with confidence, it doesn’t always come naturally to everyone. Especially for female leaders, their self-esteem in and out of the workplace […]
How to Get People to Do What You Want Them to Do (Like Wearing Masks)
Would you like to change someone’s behavior? To do something they might not otherwise do? To get your children to pick up after themselves? To get a client to buy your product or service? To get people to wear masks in your business/city? (a timely, but controversial example!) Often, it is not enough to merely […]
Just say, “No!”
I grew up in a home where “yes” meant “yes” and “no” meant “no.” And, conflict was not necessarily a problem. Not talking about issues was a problem. And, then I married into my husband’s Korean-Norwegian family (Korean mom, Norwegian dad). And I quickly learned that “No” doesn’t always mean “No.” Shortly after we were […]
Speech Zero to Hero–Step 7: Focused Practice
Time limit: 5 minutes Ideally, you would have time to practice your presentation both in parts and as a whole a few times, but if you are truly in a hurry, you will need to focus your practice on the 2 parts that will make a first impression and leave a lasting impact: your opening and […]
Speech Zero to Hero: Speech Delivery Tips
1. Don’t read. Don’t read your notes. Don’t read your slides. Follow the rule “Talk to People Not to Paper.” If you speak from an outline or brief keyword notes (in a large font), pause, stop speaking, mentally grab the next point, look up at the audience and then speak. When you read, you lose […]
Speech Zero to Hero–Step 6: Speech Notes
Time limit: 5 minutes If you are running out of time, you can simply take your notes from steps 4 and 5 and use them as your speech notes. However, I suggest that you condense your notes onto one page Make sure to write or type your notes so that you can easily read them at […]
Speech Zero to Hero–Step 5: Open, Close
Time limit: 10 minutes The opening and closing of your presentation are critical components, and the only parts I suggest memorizing. Your opening is the first impression and your closing is the final impact. By memorizing them, you will sound and feel more confident. You want to open in a way that gets the audience’s attention, […]
Speech Zero to Hero–Step 4: Support Points
Time limit: 15 minutes Now we have come to the meat of your presentation, supporting your points. A few common ways to support your points include: Anecdotal evidence: essentially telling a story or offering a case study—make sure they are relevant! Empirical evidence: research and statistics Logical: reasoning based on facts Demonstration: show how something works […]
Speech Zero to Hero–Step 3: Main Points
Time limit: 5 minutes If you are preparing to give a speech in an hour, you don’t have time to figure out a lot of main points, so keep it to 2 or 3. By limiting the number of main points to 2 or 3, not only will they be easier for the audience to […]
Speech Zero to Hero–Step 2: Big Picture
Time limit: 5 minutes The big picture is knowing your purpose for the presentation and your overall approach to presenting it. #1 Select ONE Specific Purpose (keeping in mind your audience) Decision 1: What is the main general purpose of your presentation? Pick one (you may include all three, but pick a MAIN one): To […]
Speech Zero to Hero–Step 1: The 2 “Knows”
Time limit: 5 minutes Before you plunge into creating your speech there are a couple of critical things you should know to save time and frustration later: #1 Know: The requirements These may be obvious, but these are things you don’t want to overlook! Date: Time: Location: Length of presentation: Topic: What you are expected […]
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 […]
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 […]