Articles to Improve Your Skills

In a world where everyone is eager to speak, we often forget the true power of listening. Active listening, the art of fully engaging in a conversation and understanding the speaker’s message, is a skill that can transform the way…

Communication is the lifeblood of leadership. Effective communication lies at the core of successful leadership, enabling leaders to inspire, motivate, and guide their teams toward shared goals. Without strong communication skills, leaders risk misunderstandings, decreased productivity, and a breakdown in…

PowerPoint has become a ubiquitous tool for presentations in various fields, from business to education. However, not all PowerPoint presentations are created equal. To deliver a compelling and effective presentation, it’s essential to understand the dos and don’ts of creating…

In March 2020, our world shifted on a scale no one could comprehend. With the onset of a global pandemic, everyone:  businesses, families, friends, doctor appointments, support groups, etc., had to quickly adapt to what many people considered foreign communication:…

Yes, even professional presenters need help! My mother’s presentation reflections upon retirement, I wish you were there! A successful businesswoman, my mother, confided in me that she gets terribly nervous when presenting, though she has done it for over 30…

Valentine’s Day got me thinking this year…. One of the core definitions of love is that we put others’ needs above our own. Some experts have said that we, as human beings, operate out of two base emotions: love and…

Many people think that only extroverts can be great public speakers. They think, “if you’re good at talking in general, you’ll be good at speaking to a crowd, right?” That’s not always the case. Some of the best speakers of…

In recent years I’ve learned a lot about the importance culture plays in an overall business. Throughout a 20+ year career in business leadership, I’ve had the opportunity to experience firsthand varying cultures and observe those cultures’ impact on the…

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the potential lifetime earnings of an individual with a bachelor’s degree versus someone without is over $1M higher. If we break that down over a 40-year career, that $1M translates to an annual income…

LinkedIn now commands a staggering 800+ million users in more than 200 countries. It is arguably the top destination for professionals worldwide to network with other professionals for multiple different business needs. LinkedIn also offers a wide range of additional…

I feel anxiety building deep within my gut. Matzie is talking again. She repeats herself as an unrelenting barrage of words flows from her mouth. Glancing at Aaron, he appears to be checking his notes. My eyes shift to Josey,…

Far too often, we do not “filter” what we say, and in turn, what we mean can get jumbled. This can sometimes be a sign that we need to work on our Emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence refers to the ability…

Sales revenue is the lifeblood of any business. So it only stands to reason you want to do everything you can to ensure your sales revenue grows year-over-year, driving your profit margins and customer loyalty up. But to grow your…

We’ve all been there—you’ve worked hard on your presentation and you know it like the back of your hand. But when the moment comes to begin that presentation, you aren’t sure where to begin. So, what comes out? Perhaps something…

A Good Business Presentation Starts Strong If there’s one thing 2020 has taught us, it’s just how important effective communication is to the health and sustainability of a business. Every good business presentation starts with great communication. Until this year,…

Introverts: Working From Home Works If someone had told us five years ago that 40 percent (or more) of the American labor force would be working from home in 2020, I don’t know that we would have believed them. Sure,…

Authentic Communication in a Pandemic World The challenge to being an effective communicator in our COVID-19 pandemic world is not as much about what you say but getting people to listen. Isolation, distractions, and fluid circumstances make it hard for…

By now, most of us are used to carrying on with socializing, going to school, or going to work via video conferencing software. Whether you use Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, or other programs, you probably know a thing or two…

The Value of Storytelling Research has shown that messages delivered through a story can be as much as 22 times more memorable than facts alone. That’s because wrapping facts and figures in a story makes the listener hear your message…

Dear friends and colleagues, Greetings! I bring you sincere well-wishes during …this. In the absence of better or un-borrowed words to name what we’re in, I’ll just leave it at that. I look forward to connecting on this insight: Has…

Business Communication Relies on Active Listening Stephen R. Covey said: “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” Everyone has an opinion and something to say, and that isn’t necessarily a…

Staying in Touch Through Phone Meetings As your business grows and your client base expands, you’re probably finding it challenging to meet with everyone face-to-face. How do you maintain the same level of intimacy and customer service in a world…

Your Presentations Need More Vocal Expression A lot of presentations are boring, aren’t they? I know I’ve sat through my fair share of really, REALLY bad presentations. The ones where the speaker droned on far too long, his voice so…

Create Exciting Presentations That Stay Exciting One of the most challenging things about public speaking is keeping your audience interested. We’ve talked about engaging your audience before, and there are a lot of things you can do to make your…

Create A Strong Opening Statement One of the best speakers I ever heard was a guy who started with such a touching and inspiring story of how he overcame personal tragedy.  As I listened, I couldn’t help but think: If…

Memorizing Speeches is a Big No-No When we emphasize the importance of practicing to attendees of our Presentation Skills Training workshops, we hear the same question come up over and over: “What’s the best way to memorize my speech?”  And…

Public Speaking Mistakes Happen to Everyone Tell me if this rings a bell: You’re going along, giving a great speech or presentation, when all of a sudden you draw a complete blank. Your train of thought has derailed. It’s about…

Mind Mapping Works for Presentations When it comes to putting together a great presentation, sometimes the hardest part is figuring out how you’re going to share all of the information you want your audience to have, and in what order…

Communication in the Workplace It goes without saying that communication in the workplace is the cornerstone to success. Without it, we can’t set goals for the good of the business or make plans to collectively achieve them. Without strong communication…

Funny Presentations: They’re the Ones You Remember One of the most powerful communication tools you can use to deliver your message is humor. It’s what makes you real. And when it’s used appropriately, it can be one of the most…

Public Speaking With Confidence What is it about public speaking that robs people of their confidence? They stand up in front of a group and all of a sudden their shoulders drop, they fidget, and it’s blatantly obvious to everyone…

Answering Audiences Questions Appropriately You’ve crafted an excellent presentation: you’ve practiced the talk, rehearsed your presentation, and even managed to come up with a few great jokes. But have you thought about the questions your audience may have for you…

If you’re lucky enough to land yourself a public speaking gig, the last thing you want to do is waste the opportunity. Yes, you read that right: I said you’re lucky to be offered an opportunity to give a presentation….

A presentation is more than just an opportunity to explain a position or idea; it’s a means to demonstrate the hard work and research you’ve invested into it. And when it comes to preparing for a presentation—any presentation—you need to…

Your presentation method—that is, how you deliver a presentation—is just as important as organizing your material ahead of your presentation. How you deliver your message is a vital component of the message itself. Your goal is to engage your audience…

Think back to the last presentation you heard that used PowerPoint. Was there anything memorable about it? How was PowerPoint used, and did it add value to the presentation? Too many times we see PowerPoint used as a crutch. Instead…

Practice, Practice, Practice When was the last time you practiced on your elevator speech? What happened the last time you actually put it to use? If you’re staring blankly at the screen right now, wondering what an elevator speech is…

When we talk about effective presentation skills, it’s the ‘speaking’ part that comes to mind first. And it only makes sense: it’s not much of a presentation if you don’t say anything! But did you know that aside from your…

Dealing With the Media So you have to do a media interview and you sense the crowd may be hostile. Understanding that you may be asked some tough, pointed questions has you a bit on edge. Certainly you’d like to…

How To Have Effective Gestures We talk a lot about verbal and non-verbal communication in our public speaking workshops, but what exactly is non-verbal communication? To put it simply, it’s the way you communicate through body language or gestures, and…

Using PowerPoint Effectively Who hasn’t attended a meeting or presentation where the speaker overused their PowerPoint Presentation and created a slow death for their audience? You know; the one that had 125 slides and went through them in 20 minutes….

The Power of Charisma Have you ever noticed how some speakers seem to have a special power to draw others in? Their presence is engaging, comforting, and their passion makes you want to listen to what they have to say….

Effective Presenters Always Tell a Story Effective presenters all have one thing in common. They are excellent storytellers!  Connecting with your audience on an emotional level can be accomplished by the art of storytelling, which makes it easier to pull…

Passion Engages the Audience Passion is the key to really being able to engage your audience! There is no shortage of rules that relate to public speaking. Stand up straight. Speak clearly and with enough volume. Make eye contact if…

Presentation Skills and Customer Service Companies large and small are all coming to the same conclusion, customer service is their lifeblood. As profit margins are squeezed and customer acquisition costs continue to rise, what can business owners do to stay…

Fear of Public Speaking What is it that causes so much fear and trepidation when it comes to speaking in front of other people? Why do we always become so nervous and jittery when giving presentations? Essentially, we are concerned…

Impact the Audience With Storytelling Successfully presenting your thoughts and ideas, and effectively impacting others with your message, can be a gateway to better relationships, more productivity and an enhanced bottom line.  Delivering a successful presentation requires that you truly…

Use of Humor in Presentations Makes Them Memorable One thing the National Republican debates have reminded us of, is the importance of humor in presentations.  The candidates are obviously not aware to the extent that their comments will be twisted…

Leadership and Communication Skills Great leaders are great communicators. Great communicators are great leaders. The ability to confidently and persuasively communicate are critical to great leadership, and those who rise to the top are the ones who can stand up and…

Saturday, February 04, 2012 – 1:27 pm   Effective Presentations, Introducing New Video Production Company   February 4 — Already one of the nation’s premier providers of public speaking skills training and motivational keynote speakers, Effective Presentations of Lakewood, Colorado…

7 Ways to be Ineffective at Networking Meetings 1) Talk about yourself:  After all, you are the most important person in the room.  Don’t engage the audience or ask anyone a question because they came to hear your story, not…