October 2016

Comfortable in Her Skin

Candidates' debates call on multiple areas of a speaker's expertise. While most of us won't ever be put through such a grueling exercise, there is much we can learn from watching. Read my blog review of the first debate here.

Interested in a workshop? Check out this link for upcoming dates for my ever-popular One-Day Blitz.

Tips you can use!

Try on your leadership shoes

Don't save your "powerful" new shoes for that special presentation. Wear them around the house to break them in.  Because it's hard to look and sound like a leader when your feet are killing you.

You need to eat. . .

The truth is your brain needs glucose to work. If you are hungry or dieting, your thinking may be fuzzy, and so will your speaking.   

Find your own "bridge phrase"

When you need time to think whip out your bridge phrase! It can rescue you from that dreaded silence. Practice, practice, practice till it feels natural rolling off your tongue. It will help you break the habit of relying on "um" or "so" to fill the void!

September 2016

True trickiness of tone

This month's blog shares some observations made during a reading of my latest play at The Kennedy Center. The realtionship of words said to tone used to say them is, I think, something we can all apply to real life situations.

Fall Workshops are back! Check out this link for upcoming dates for my ever-popular One-Day Blitz.

Tips you can use!

Toungue twisters to the rescue

Make sure your mouth is awake before you start your day by doing a few tongue twisters in the shower or on your way to the office. Take a minute to warm up your "talking muscles" before your day of calls, meetings, and chats. You won't get tripped up by the old mumble/stumble again! 

Breathe

 This tip is evergreen--because it is always needed! Each day I hear people who forget to do the most basic thing before they start to speak: Breathe! Even if you haven't had a chance to do your daily breathing/centering warm-ups, taking a good deep breath before you start to say anything will help you speak with energy and focus.

. . . and breathe again!

Just because you've gotten off to a good start in your speech doesn't mean you are out of the woods! Fear can still overtake you. Be vigilant and keep the "speakers nerves" from wrecking your presentation by mindfully breathing throughout. A "note to self" written on your outline or text about 2/3 of the way through can't hurt, either!

July/August 2016

It sure is sticky!

No, this month's blog is not about tone policing or telling someone "you'll catch more flies with vinegar than honey!" It is about "sticky" speech--you know, the kind where you recall what was said long after you heard it. It is a big topic but I highlight two basic elements for crafting sticky messages.

In other news, my final group Executive Communications Skills workshop for the summer is coming up soon. And I have a few places left. More info is here.

Tips you can use!

Put on your neutral face

Yes, RBF is a real thing, so if you've been told to stop looking so mean, you're not alone! But you can minimize such comments by practicing your "zen face:" relaxed, not super-smiley, just a little less intense. Making a few muscular adjustments can make a huge difference in how others perceive you. 

Don't know? That's OK--

You can't be expected to know everything about your speech topic, but you should know  where to find the answer.  Don't make things up: chances are someone else in the room will have Googled the real answer by the time you've finished.

A better PowerPoint

If you absolutely need to put together a slide deck (using illustrative charts, graphs or maps) make sure they are big enough to be seen at the back of the room. Otherwise, find a graphic that reinforces your theme. Or just tell the story. Stories can be the most powerful tools in your speaker's arsenal. Revisit my blog post to find out why.