Practice makes perfect. It makes sense then, to be careful what you practice. This phrase made me stop and think when I read it in ‘Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff ‘ by Richard Carlson recently. Because for many years when people have said that to get better at presenting you need to practice,(after all practice […]
Were you born to present…or have you honed your craft? Ever been so sure of something only to have started to tell someone else and find yourself speaking gobbledegook? Ever thought you knew something back to front and sideways only to find you can’t make someone else understand? Ever struggled to put across something […]
Working with a client recently reminded me of doing a jigsaw puzzle. We had most of the pieces there but it wasn’t quite making the full picture! The words were there (carefully crafted, elegantly sequenced, engagingly engineered). The will was there […]
I was working with a client the other day on a major presentation for them. He outlined the content as it existed in his thoughts so far ( nothing shaped, crafted or created as yet) and asked for my feedback. ‘great content in essence’ I replied, “But…where is the perspective? What are you expecting the audience […]
I am reading ‘I am Malala – The Girl who Stood up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban’ by Malala Yousaefzai. What an amazing story of courage, conviction and clarity of purpose. And she is only 17! If you haven’t read it yet then check it out and watch Malala speak on this […]
Now let’s get things straight first: I am not a great snooker supporter. In fact I would go so far as to say I am not especially interested in the sport or the players. Many years ago I once sat on an aeroplane next to a famous (then) player. I chatted away oblivious to who […]
I worked half my life to be an overnight success, and still it took me by surprise.,.Jessica Savitch One press account said I was an overnight success. I thought that was the longest night I’ve ever spent.,Sandra Cisneros A lot of people think I was an overnight success, but I was an opening act for […]
I have been working with a private client recently and he has had an interesting dilemma. For many years he has been overshadowed by his louder, dynamic, extroverted colleague when it comes to speaking in meetings, delivering presentations and representing the organisation to clients, journalists and other interested parties. For many years this has been […]
One of the questions I am often asked about presenting is how to allow your personality to shine through but at the same time remain professional and in control. In fact someone said to me the other day that he was very much aware that when he spoke up in presentations, all his personality drained […]
Well there are plenty of great lessons to learn about speaking and inspiring from Jesus Christ ( and maybe that is another blog) but in this blog I am focusing an altogether less spiritual man, Jeremy Clarkson. Now first a confession. I get quite a lot of exposure to Jeremy Clarkson in my household. With […]
Delivering effective business presentations – Ten things your audience will never say
What people say after your presentation…and what they really mean
The Day my projector broke…presentation disaster?
10 Ways to Ruin your Presentation
He’s just asked for feedback on his presentation – what should I say?
Catherine Sandland: Yes - it is a great feeling when you realise that ...
Catherine Sandland: Ah - damning with faint praise methinks!...
Jason: The best thing I ever heard on one of mine was, th...
Jason: The worst things I have ever seen said were. That ...
Design attrayant Running: Greetings from Los angeles! I'm bored at work so ...