Tease them before you tell them. That’s a phrase I came up with that reminds me (and others) to not simply deliver information but to make your audience hungry for it. Why? Because they’ll value it more and probably digest it better. There are several ways to tease them before you tell them. Attain […]
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 real pleasure.” […]
Continue readingKey 1: Set expectations as to how many questions you will take or how long you will entertain questions. For example, I usually say, “We’ll take 4 or 5 questions and then I’ll wrap up the message.” Or I might say, “We have 5 minutes for questions and then we’ll put a bow on the […]
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Patricia Fripp once said to me, “Craig, people will not remember what you say as much as they will remember what they see when you say it.” In other words, we have to make our speeches very visual in order to have the deepest impact. Here are 3 ways to accomplish this: 1. Put your audience […]
Continue readingThere are various F-words in speaking that can help you connect with your audience and make them laugh. Listen to the following audio to pick up the first F-word F-word Failures The quickest way to connect with your audience is to share your failures. Why? Because everyone has failed at something and sharing your […]
Continue readingIf you want to thrive in speaking and continue to get opportunity after opportunity, that’s as easy as ABC. ABC stands for… Always Be Creating” Resting on your old material will eventually make your speeches go stale. Creating new, fresh material is a pathway to creating speeches people talk about for years and getting hire […]
Continue readingWhat you do in the first two minutes can absolutely make or break your speech. My number one goal is to connect quickly with my audience and I can do this using humor, curiosity, and involvement. Click below to listen to the first two minutes of a recent 45-minute keynote speech I gave to […]
Continue readingYou might have the greatest content in the world, but, if you do not connect with your audience, it all goes to waste. That’s like being on the phone and having something very important to tell your friend but the call keeps dropping. No matter what you had to say will not get through. However, […]
Continue readingAudiences remember what they see and what you say. As you watch the following video of me coaching another speaker, you will pick up 7 Secrets that will help you… Breathe life into every story/speech Uncover organic humor Make your message memorable 7 Speaking Secrets Secret #1: Don’t be the hero of your own […]
Continue readingWhen you connect with one audience member, it usually does wonders in helping you connect with the entire group. I believe this is because, by pointing out individuals in the group, the group begins to realize that you see them as individuals and not as one large group. They realize that you are really listening […]
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