Lots of presentations are informational. They are designed to be full of (useful and/or necessary) information. They are content designed and content–led. Often the first question presenters of this type of presentation ask themselves is ‘What is it that I have to say?’ The best informational presentations will then answer the (unsaid but oft thought […]
Public speaking – boiled down to three fundamental principles
Communication as a word is totally useless. It’s too big a word with a myriad of different categories and definitions. It means different things to different people. But how about this as a way of thinking about communication (and therefore presentations) can you say things in a way that other people ‘get’? can you say […]
Three reasons why you should refuse to speak in public …and one reason you should
There are three reasons you should say no: If you don’t know what you are talking about If you don’t know what you are talking about you’ve got three options – find someone who does, go find out more or decline to offer to speak. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? And yet, this is a point […]
What can speaking brilliantly do for your business?
Do people know what you do? Do they know why you do what you do? Do they know what you can do for them? Do they know what you can do for others so they can recommend you? Yes, a website with brilliant copy can help you make sure that people can find out this […]
I speak twice a year (and even then I try to avoid it) – why don’t the nerves go away and why don’t I get any better?
Imagine you were just about to learn how to surf. ( if you are already an experienced surfer, then I am happy for you to comment on the accuracy of my analogy) You slip into your wet suit (doesn’t that make it sound easy!), grab your board and march determinedly towards the open sea. You […]
I want to be me…but my personality flows out of my boots when I stand up to speak
What do you think of when you think of a presenter? What images do you come across when you search for ‘presenter? Nine times out of ten, we think of booted and suited, behind a lectern, against a background of slides and of course smooth, suave and confident! Sometimes, that is what presenting is but […]
I’m ok one to one…it’s just when I stand up to speak in public when it goes pear-shaped!
If I had a pound for the number of times people said to me, ‘ I am fine talking one to one with people, it’s just the thought of standing up and speaking to groups that send me into a tizzy…”, I’d be a very rich woman! What is it do you think, that makes […]
How do I prepare for a presentation – here are the questions you should be asking!
How do I prepare for a presentation? Actually, most people don’t ask me that question. Most people ask either, ‘How do I write a presentation?’ Or ‘How do I give a presentation?’ And yet, because most of the people I work with are intelligent people, they know that preparation is key. It’s just that we […]
How to deliver a presentation – should I stand or should I sit?
How to deliver a presentation – Should I stand or should I sit? I’ve been asked this question so many times and while the true answer is, it depends, often the real reason someone is asking is that they do not want to stand and are hoping for an easy reason to sit! Why don’t […]
How to tell a story in a presentation
I come from Yorkshire and there’s a phrase often used there relating to how people tell stories – “from t’thread t’ needle”. In other words, every detail is included, every side street, every nuance, every deviation… It makes for a great conversation and a good night out over a beer or glass of wine but […]
