Category Archives: Delivery

Pauses in a speech: Why, when and how

Posted on 12/11/2019 by

A STORY FROM SPAIN Pauses aren’t easy. I teach public speaking and presentation skills at a few Executive MBA Programmes in Switzerland and Spain. A few years ago, I was teaching a class at IESE in Barcelona. One of my … Continue reading →

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Things that public speakers don’t need on stage

Posted on 10/08/2019 by

When you deliver a speech or presentation, there are several things you do not need to bring on stage: – Your cell phone – Coins in your pocket – Keys in your pocket – Anything that can jingle in your … Continue reading →

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A giant leap forward in your public speaking

Posted on 09/04/2019 by

There is a lot to learn about public speaking. The fact that I have been writing this blog for 10 years is testament to that. And no matter how much you learn, no matter how good you become, you will … Continue reading →

Posted in Audience, Delivery | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

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 →

Posted in Delivery, Nerves | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

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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