Yes and no.  While earning my Master’s Degree in Speech Communication at the University of Texas at Austin, I learned some theories related to persuasion: The Primacy Effect suggests that the information we hear first is more likely to have sticking power. Alternately, the...

Are your beliefs supporting or hindering your desire to be a more effective speaker? “What you believe has more power than what you dream or wish or hope for. You become what you believe.” –  Oprah Recently I was preparing a very bright and...

A friend of mine recently sent me a video featuring Simon Sinek.  According to Wikipedia, Simon is a marketing consultant known for developing “The Golden Circle,” a model based on human decision-making that guides organizations on how to inspire people to buy or support...

“Presentations are a tool for high-stakes internal and external communications. Presentations all too often reflect the agenda of the presenter rather than build a connection with the audience.  This is unfortunate because presentations could be considered the last branding frontier, in terms of both...

This is one reason why rehearsing your presentation is so critical.  Practicing increases the likelihood that you will stay on track and hit your key points without getting a case of verbal vomit.  However, if it does happen use this simple strategy: 1.    Stop...

Speaker transitions can be made more smooth and effective by: 1. Having the current speaker, we’ll call her Jane, introduce the upcoming speaker: “I’d now like to have Bob Jenson, your Project Superintendent come up and discuss our phasing plan.” 2. As the speakers...

Some speakers demonstrate their discomfort in their voice. Most often, when we are nervous or uncomfortable we go higher in our vocal register.  The solution is to go much lower in the vocal register temporarily without getting monotone.  This will have a calming affect...

Sincerity is paramount to your message having an impact.  If a speaker comes across insincere, we tend to discredit the speaker and dismiss their message.  No one will buy your message until they buy you. Let’s take the example, “I am passionate about working...

The key here is the word appears.  It may not be you or your presentation.  It be a momentary lapse in concentration as a result of sitting for a long period of time and getting a lot of information.  So it might not serve...

Typically no. Quite often, those most concerned about over-practicing just want an excuse not to practice.  Or they are afraid that repetition will make them bored with the material come time for the actual presentation. The key is to show up to the presentation...