I’ve always prided myself in being a content-rich speaker so imagine my surprise when I had the following conversation after a speech. A couple ladies cornered me and said, “You had a lot of content in your speech.” I said, “Thank you.” Then they said, “We mean you had too much content.” At first I […]
Continue readingHave you ever wondered what to keep in your story and what to take out? Have you ever wondered how to tighten up your message? Have you ever wondered how to find the phrase that makes your story stick? Watch the video below and see one of the most important processes for making a point […]
Continue readingEvery now and then it is important to remind ourselves of some of the foundations that can lift us to great heights in speaking. Here are 25 phrases to do just that. Speak to one but look to all When you lift yourself up you let your audience down What gets recorded gets rewarded Don’t […]
Continue readingIf the most important word in speaking is ‘you,’ the most important number in speaking is three. The Rule of 3 manifests in many ways. It helps make your speech more humorous, clearer, and more memorable. Use it For Humor Let’s start with the humor. The Rule of Three applies when you have three examples that […]
Continue readingIn speaking we have to understand that audiences remember best what they hear first and what they hear last. Therefore, the way we open a speech is critical and the way we close it is just as important. There are 3 tools you can use to make sure your closing makes an impact. 3 Keys to […]
Continue readingTap, Tease, and Transport Most speakers start their stories and hope their audiences will come along on those journeys. That’s average. World Class Speakers don’t do that. Instead, they make their audiences curious so that they want to come along. So here is the secret: it’s what you do before your story that really matters. […]
Continue readingNote: This blog entry is an excerpt from my latest book World Class Speaking that I co-authored with Mitch Meyerson. 1. Do not Drop Stats off; Drive them Home Many times you will see a speaker go into a list of statistics in order to prove his or her point. Statistics are certainly desirable in speaking, […]
Continue readingDid you know that, within the first 30 seconds of your speech, your audience members will have decided whether or not they want to hear more? What are you doing with your first 30 seconds? Most speakers open with Unpleasant pleasantries by stating something like, “Thank you so much for having me here. It’s a […]
Continue readingAverage speakers give speeches that get a good response, but exceptional speakers give speeches that move their audiences to take action. Exceptional speakers help change lives long after they have finished speaking. That is why exceptional speakers get rehired time and time again. How do speakers become exceptional? They learn the tools necessary to prompt […]
Continue readingWhat good is giving a speech that is quickly forgotten by your audience? In this lesson, you will find 5 tools you can use to make your speech stick in the minds and hearts of your audience members. As a result, you can get rehired time and time again. As I always say, when you […]
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