March, 2017

Second bananas and comic relief

For this month's blog post I examine leadership speech, specifically Donald Trump's usage, through the lens of a playwright. Having just been immersed in a stage reading of my latest play, I am acutely aware that words and how we use them matter!

If you'd like to sharpen your leadership speech and presence, join me for upcoming Executive Communications Skills: One-Day Blitz! More info here.

Tips you can use!

No, you can't read your audience...

...unless you already know them extremely well! Yes, you can feel if they are with you, if you are connecting. As for being able to "see" what they think of you? Impossible to do this with strangers. Don't waste time analyzing how to win them over when you should be staying actively in the moment. Read this to find out why.

Don't do the cha-cha!

If you feel the need to move when you're speaking, move! Slowly walk in a triangle that is three steps on each side. Taking purposeful strides that punctuate your main points can be an effective way to underscore your content. But if you shuffle aimlessly from side to side, it looks like you mistook your speech event for beginners' ballroom dance class.

PowerPoint, now and forever

If I had my way this "tool" would be out of date and out of use by now. But...it seems to be here, at least for while longer. So ask yourself: how am I using this? If it is a reference document to hand out to your audience, consider sending the deck to them after your talk. Or letting them pick up hard copies on their way out. For your presentation, make simpler slides that illustrate (and I mean that literally) what you are actually saying. I guarantee you will see an uptick in audience engagement

February, 2017

Communing as community

In this month's blog I reflect on how my practice as a communications coach is informed by my work as a playwright.

And check out this link for upcoming dates for Executive Communications Skills: The One-Day Blitz.

Tips you can use!

Show, don't tell

 It's true that one picture is worth a thousand words. Remember that when you put your slide deck together. Peppering a slide with words and then reading them to your audience is just plain boring! And if you don't read what is on the slide but talk over it, your audience will be doubly confused.

It's OK if they see you breathe. . .

And not just because you need to breathe to speak. Becoming overly self-conscious while speaking is a trap to avoid. Stay out of your mental cul-de-sac by saying "yes" to the breath; do it deeply, freely, and proudly!

Away with vocal fry

Or creaky voice or "gravelly ugh" (my pet name). Whatever you call it, it might be acceptable in private conversation, but when you stand up to speak in public, that sound can undercut your credibility. Using such a voice gives the impression that you're not at all well or you just don't care. Hard to overcome either and still be seen as professional.

January 2017

Only connect

Happy New Year! This month's blog discusses the secret to making those crucial communications connections. Hint: It's not just your words that matter.

And check out this link for upcoming dates for my ever-popular workshop Executive Communications Skills: The One-Day Blitz.

Tips you can use!

Lose the need to win

The new year is a good time to assess where you fall on the continuum of confidence, over-confidence, and bullying. People love a "winner," but if that win comes at the expense of relationship-building, your success will be short-lived. So if your ego is intruding into your communication, you might want to give it a rest.

Resolve to prepare

Want to find extra time this year? It sounds counter-intuitive, but the more time you put in up front--like organizing a meeting status update into a succinct, cohesive, clear statement--the less time you'll spend after cleaning up the messes that result from misspeaking "on the fly."

Go to the light

When speaking to a group informally at events like receptions, be sure to stand in the light. People need to see you to fully understand you. And I mean that quite literally: if they can't see your mouth it's much harder for them to hear what you're saying.