I was recently talking with a client and she told me how she approached presentations before we worked together.

It went something like this:

1. Sit down at the computer

2. Open PowerPoint (Google Slides, Keynote, choose your own adventure)

3. Spend a bunch of time looking for images, fiddling with typefaces, trying out images and colors

4. Get frustrated with the jumble of words and imagery on the page but so little progress after hours have gone by

5. Call it quits

6. Repeat next day

This is the way so many people approach presentations.

The reason it’s killing so much time and energy is you’re going about it backwards.

The quickest way to engage your audience is to first get clear on what you want to accomplish.

You need to be clear before you can make it clear to your audience.

It’s like doing a puzzle.

The quickest way to bring the picture into place is to start with the border.

Once you have the foundation, then and only then, start sorting the pieces inside.

Otherwise, you waste time on the details (like sorting through 1000 tiny pieces) and lose sight of the goal.

Want more help with presentations?

Learn 4 lessons I learned doing jigsaw puzzles.

Discover the most common presentation mistakes and what do about them here.

Are you struggling with what to say in week 600 of lockdown?

Not sure how your message fits into the current world?

Does your discomfort keep you from saying anything at all?

My business is devoted to helping your voices be heard.

Whether you’re a business owner or a corporate professional, we need more people speaking up, and we need your ideas now more than ever.

If you’re out in the streets protesting, thank you.

If you’re working from home, don’t let social isolation keep your voice hidden.

My last few months have been a flurry of virtual workshops, trainings, and collaborations.

• I facilitated a virtual training for Mt. Sinai Medical Center on capturing audience attention and 3 key questions to answer before any presentation, whether it’s an online panel, classroom presentation, or conference talk.

• I did a Linkedin Live with my friend Gary Ware about how to build your communication muscles and navigate tricky conversations with more empathy. We shared 3 skills to improve your listening, build consensus, and respond to feedback even when you don’t agree.

• I’ve taught a number of workshops with copywriter extraordinaire Danielle Hughes on putting together brands with personality.

Are you using this time to reposition yourself because you’re pivoting your business or looking for work?

Join us for Make Your Mark in 1 Month, a hands-on workshop with Danielle Hughes.

Here are 6 Reasons You Know If This Workshop is For You:

1. Your LinkedIn profile is begging for an update
   

2. You never know what to say on Zoom calls and networking events

3. You have so much to say but don't know where to start

4. You’ve promised yourself you’ll finally get around to writing your message/ bio/ pitch but it never makes it to the top of the list
   

5. Your writing just doesn’t sound like you, instead it sounds like a stilted, stuffy version of you
   

6.  You've seen what else is out there and let's be frank, you can definitely do better

Give us 4 weeks and we’ll give you a brand. You’ll learn how to communicate your brand in a way that’s memorable and stands out from the crowd. 

The world needs to hear from you. Do you know what to say?

Join us. We start June 25th

At an event recently someone asked me whether I thought anyone could be trained to speak in public.

My first answer was an emphatic yes.

My second answer, was yes, provided they’re willing to practice.

As a kid, I spent the summers with my dad.

At Camp Dad, I learned how to cook and play ball.

From age 10-18, our after dinner ritual consisted of daily softball and tennis practice, and occasional, reluctant basketball practice.

I learned a lot from all those evenings taking batting practice and hitting tennis balls, and not just how to switch hit or play tennis with 2 forehands (yes, two).  

What at first felt awkward and frustrating - lots of strikes and getting hit with tennis balls - eventually became more fun.

As I became more proficient, there were fewer misses and more satisfying moments when you hear the beautiful sound of your bat or racquet connecting with the ball.

Public speaking is just like learning to play a sport.

It can be scary and nerve-wracking at the start. But anyone can learn and its exhilarating when you connect with your audience. That’s the good news.

The bad news is YOU. HAVE. TO. PRACTICE.

Practice builds muscle memory. The more times you do it, the less terrifying it feels.

And the less terrified you feel, the more fun it will be.

Okay, that sounds good in theory but how do you get started and move past the deer in headlights feeling?

Watching endless TED talks, reading books on presentations, and silently reading your notes to yourself are not going to cut it.

It’s like trying to learn how to play baseball by watching it on TV. Or knitting your first sweater by watching YouTube tutorials without buying any yarn or knitting needles.

At some point, you have to leave the house. You have to practice.

So the next time you have a presentation, block off 10 minutes a day for 3 days leading up to your presentation and practice OUT LOUD.

Here's how to spend your time:

Day 1 - Practice your presentation in the mirror. This might feel a little silly at first, but you want to get comfortable seeing and hearing yourself speak. Watching yourself in the mirror helps you get used to looking up and makes it easier to maintain eye contact when you’re in front of an audience.

Day 2 - Record yourself and listen to it. You can do this on video or voice memo but make sure to listen back to the recording and pay attention to your speed, volume, intonation (and posture if you're watching video).

Day 3 - Practice your presentation for a dog. Dogs make very understanding audiences and they force you to be creative to keep them engaged. If your furry friend is drifting off, try changing positions, moving locations, or switching up your volume or pitch. (Hint: These same techniques also work for humans)


Scheduling a few short practice sessions will save you the anxiety of cramming and help you make time for the #1 thing that will improve your confidence and increase your impact.

Do you want tools to tell concise, compelling stories? Get Clear on Your Message, the ultimate planning tool to prep for presentations in 4 easy steps even when you only have 5 minutes.

“The most valuable of all talents is never using

two words when one will do.”

I found this message in a fortune cookie but it could have been written by my dad. He was a journalist for over 25 years and considered word count an art form.

My dad was also a ruthless editor. He taught my sister and I how to write short, clear sentences and ingrained in us the power of brevity.

Getting to the point is as important in your presentations as it is on the page.

When it comes to speaking, chances are you know more about your subject than your audience. You may be able to speak on your topic for 45 minutes, but that doesn’t mean your audience has an attention span of 45 minutes.

Less is More.

Share too much information, and you risk losing your audience.

The key to an effective presentation is editing.

After writing the first draft of your presentation, ask yourself, where are you using two words when one will do?

Wondering how to get started or which words to choose?

Download 4 Steps to a Winning Work Presentation to get organized, get clear, get confident. They’re free!

Public speaking is scary and even the most experienced speakers get nervous. The good news is public speaking is not a god-given talent.

It’s a skill that can be learned, just like softball or knitting.

The good news is you don't have to be a natural performer BUT you do have to practice.

The best way to get comfortable speaking in front of a group is to practice in front of a group. If that's more terrifying than you can imagine, here are a few easy tips to practice at home.

 

1. PRACTICE YOUR PRESENTATION IN THE MIRROR.

This is a great way to get immediate feedback and get used to seeing yourself speak. That might feel awkward but that's the point because once you get comfortable watching yourself, it will feel less scary when you stand up in front of other people.

 

2. PRACTICE YOUR PRESENTATION FOR A DOG.

Dogs make very understanding audiences. Check out this New York Times article: How to Give a Better Speech: Talk to a Dog

 

3. PRACTICE STANDING AND SPEAKING IN OPEN, POWERFUL POSTURES.

Watch Amy Cuddy's TED talk on presence Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are and try out power poses.

Want more tips? Download 7 Practice Strategies to Rock Your Presentation. They’re free!