Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 274) – Mokokoma Mokhonoana
“Nothing complements a fast mind better than a slow tongue. And nothing aggravates a slow mind better than a fast tongue.” Mokokoma Mokhonoana Photo courtesy of Mokokoma Mokhonoana
Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 273) – Jim Harvey
“If you don’t understand what the audience wants, you can’t be relevant. If you can’t be relevant, you won’t be interesting. If you aren’t interesting, you won’t be heard. If you’re not heard, you’ll be forgotten. If you’re forgotten, you’re done.” Jim Harvey
What happens when a speaker pauses for a few seconds?
First, let’s talk about what doesn’t happen when a speaker pauses. The audience does not think that you’ve forgotten something. Nobody can hear your heart beating. Nobody will think that you are stupid. The audience does not think that you are a bad speaker. The audience does not think that your speech is over. So […]
Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 272) – Oscar Wilde
“When both a speaker and an audience are confused, the speech is profound.” Oscar Wilde
Stretch your Speaking – Stand-up Comedy
This post is the second in a series about finding ways to stretch yourself when it comes to public speaking. The goal is to encourage people to explore different ways of developing their speaking skills and thus to become better speakers. For the previous post in the series, please click here. For the next post, […]
Analysis of a speech by Oprah Winfrey
The 2018 Golden Globe Awards were handed out last night (7 January 2018). There were several highlights and many winners, but the overwhelming consensus is that Oprah Winfrey stole the show. Winfrey, a talk show host, actress and philanthropist was honoured as the first black woman to win the Cecil B DeMille lifetime achievement award. She used her […]
The benefits of humour and 10 tips for using it in a speech
I am one of the co-founders of Presentation Guru, a digital magazine for public speaking professionals.This post is part of a series designed to share the great content on Presentation Guru with the Manner of Speaking community. benefits of humour ——— French author Victor Hugo said, “Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.” When speaking to […]
Break the Internet
Net neutrality is important. Yet, in just days, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will vote to end it. breaking the fundamental principle of the open Internet. If you do not want your ability to surf the Internet to be held hostage by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), now is the time to speak up. If you live […]
Don't blow it with your audience
You have to handle the microphone carefully. Last week I attended the graduation ceremony for the class of a business school where I teach. The graduates had taken their seats, the audience was settled in, the three-piece orchestra had just finished the last of its pieces. Everything was set. The Master of Ceremonies approached the […]
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