THE ROOM ISN’T THE PROBLEM
It’s the preparation that came before it. We tend to blame the audience when a presentation doesn’t land – too passive, too quiet, too sceptical, too distracted. It’s easy to think people weren’t listening because they didn’t care. But often, they didn’t care because you didn’t give them a reason to. But most rooms reflect what they’re given. If the message isn’t clear, people won’t know what to take away.
Continue ReadingSTRENGTH IN UNEXPECTED PLACES
In public speaking, what seems like a weakness could be your strength. Are you a non-native English speaker? You might speak more slowly. This can be a plus, especially for international audiences. It gives people time to understand and absorb your words. Do you prefer writing and sticking to a script? It might seem rigid, but with a bit of flexibility, this thorough preparation helps you cover all key points.
Continue ReadingSTART LIKE IT MATTERS
No James Bond movie starts slowly. They all open with action – car chases, explosions, impossible escapes – before the theme song even begins. The filmmakers know they have only seconds to grab your attention. Presentations are no different. The first few moments decide everything. Your audience is thinking: Should I listen, or should I tune out? You don’t have time to ease in with, “Hi, great to be here, thanks for having me.”
Continue ReadingYOU HAVE TO SHARE IT
In May 1952, Rosalind Franklin captured one of the most important scientific images of the 20th century: Photo 51. It was a detailed X-ray image of DNA that showed it had a twisted, spiral shape – the breakthrough clue scientists needed to understand how DNA is built. Franklin was focused on her research. She was preparing her own publications and hadn’t yet widely disseminated the image. But behind her back, a colleague at King’s College, Maurice Wilkins, showed Photo 51 to James Watson – without her knowledge or permission.
Continue ReadingHOPE ISN’T A STRATEGY
A few years ago, I hosted a live event with Dan Roam as the guest speaker. We did a smooth tech check thirty minutes before going live – everything worked. Then, thirty seconds before showtime, my setup crashed. Total chaos. Dan handled it brilliantly. We improvised a new setup on the fly, and the event still worked. But it was a reminder I won’t forget. Here’s the lesson: If it can go wrong, it might.
Continue ReadingEVERYONE HAS A PLAN
“…until they get punched in the mouth.” That line came from Mike Tyson. Plans look good on paper – until reality shows up. Some people script every word. Others like to improvise. Both can work. But neither works if you can’t adapt. If you stick to a script no matter what, you risk sounding stiff. Miss one line and you panic. If you wing it with no structure, nerves can take over, and you ramble.
Continue ReadingTHE TOOLS WILL CHANGE
Jeff Bezos once said that people often ask him, “What’s going to change in the next ten years?” But almost no one asks the better question: “What’s not going to change?” For Bezos, that second question matters more. At Amazon, he knows that no matter how the world evolves, customers will always want low prices, fast delivery and wide selection. So that’s where they focus – on the things that won’t change.
Continue ReadingTHIS IS THE WAY OUT
In 2009, Warren Buffett told a group of students that his greatest fear early in life was public speaking. He was so anxious about it that he dropped a speaking course before it even started. But eventually, he forced himself to go back and complete it. Years later, he said that the most valuable diploma in his office was from that public speaking course. That’s the key: action changes fear.
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