Years ago I was asked to give a speech to a group of educators in Virginia. Right before I took the stage, I decided to change my speech in an attempt to connect quicker and deeper with this particular audience. Play the audio lesson below and hear what I did backstage before I got onstage. […]
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When 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 actually see them as individuals and not as one large group. That’s the basis for a deep […]
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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.” They looked at me with concerned expressions and said, “That wasn’t a compliment. […]
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As a speaker, when you tell a story, it’s important to not have it come off looking like a stage-play. Instead, it should feel like an ongoing conversation with your audience mixed with some scenes that you invite them to experience. The Story Step-out Method will help you strike that delicate balance between telling your […]
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I always tell speakers, “Don’t speak for standing ovations; speak for standing invitations.” In other words, be so effective that they bring you back time and time again. There’s a better chance of this occurring if your audience finds you likable, trustworthy, and motivational. They need to know that your advice will work for them like […]
Continue readingClick the arrow in the audio player below to listen to this 1-minute audio of a live Q&A I held in Saudi Arabia that teaches a lesson about how NOT to open your speech. [audio:https://craigvalentine.com/wp-content/uploads/604888DZMUEG.mp3|titles=Mic check ] So How Can You Open The Speech? Now that you see what not to do during your opening, let’s look […]
Continue readingI’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 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. […]
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