Category Archives: Delivery

Patrick Stewart: A lesson from Shakespeare and Star Trek

Posted on 11/02/2019 by

I do not consider myself to be a Trekkie, but I was a big fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation. It was the second Star Trek series and the only one that I watched from beginning to end. The … Continue reading →

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Pico Iyer and the art of stillness

Posted on 29/01/2019 by

Pico Iyer is a renowned essayist and novelist who is best known for his travel writing. He has been to some of the most far-flung places on the planet and his writings have appeared in leading newspapers, magazines and literary … Continue reading →

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When you speak, break the pattern

Posted on 14/01/2019 by

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. ——— In my seven-part series on Chip and … Continue reading →

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10 tips for dealing wth dry mouth when you speak

Posted on 10/01/2019 by

If you give a lot of speeches or presentations, there is a good chance that you have experienced dry mouth (also known as cotton mouth) — that parched, sticky sensation that makes your mouth and throat feel like cracked soil … Continue reading →

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You know more than you think you do

Posted on 18/12/2018 by

In the TED Talk below, social scientist Dolly Chugh speaks about an interesting idea: how we can become better people if we just stop trying to be good. I don’t intend to analyze her talk; rather, in this post, I’d like … Continue reading →

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Don’t make the same mistake as Donald Trump

Posted on 02/10/2018 by

You’d be forgiven if, after reading the title of this post, you asked, “Which one?” Don’t worry, we’re going to leave politics and policies aside, so that narrows it down, at least somewhat. Instead, I want to discuss a mistake … Continue reading →

Posted in Audience, Delivery, Structure | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Change your perspective

Posted on 10/08/2018 by

Good, better, best. Bad, worse, worst. One, two, three. Past, present, future. When we speak, we often find ourselves comparing things (e.g., different investment opportunities; different options for a business) or reviewing a timeline (e.g., stages of a project). Thus, … Continue reading →

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Recovering from a memory lapse during a presentation

Posted on 19/07/2018 by

The people at Visme have designed a simple infographic with eight tips to recover from a memory lapse when delivering a presentation. They expand on these points in a blog post that you can read here. I like the tips, … Continue reading →

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Be prepared to cut your ending short

Posted on 08/07/2018 by

I have written in the past about managing your time when giving a speech or presentation. One of my tips in the link above related to being prepared to cut material if necessary: Have a plan to cut material. Logistics … Continue reading →

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Never wear a name tag when you speak

Posted on 16/02/2018 by

If you are invited to speak at a conference or other event, you will likely receive a name tag when you register. It will usually be in a plastic envelope that you attach to your clothing with a pin, or … Continue reading →

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What happens when a speaker pauses for a few seconds?

Posted on 28/01/2018 by

First, let’s talk about what doesn’t happen. The audience does not think that you’ve forgotten something. The audience does not hear your heart beating. The audience does not think that you are stupid. The audience does not think that you … Continue reading →

Posted in Delivery, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 17 Comments

Don’t blow it with your audience

Posted on 29/11/2017 by

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 … Continue reading →

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