Tag Archives: Preparation

A lesson from Dubrovnik

Posted on 23/08/2019 by

My wife, Julie and I recently went for a vacation in the Croatian city of Dubrovnik. Wonderful people, beautiful scenery, fascinating history. If you ever get the chance to visit, I highly recommend it. One day, we took a cable … Continue reading →

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Sketches from the Summer School of Rhetoric – Part 1

Posted on 03/07/2019 by

On 6 June 2019, I had the pleasure of giving a workshop on public speaking and presentations skills in Hämeenlinna, Finland, at the Summer School of Rhetoric. It is an excellent event, held every summer, at a beautiful location in the idyllic … Continue reading →

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3 tips to deal with the room where you speak

Posted on 27/05/2019 by

When we give a speech or presentation, we usually don’t have any control over the room where we speak. We might be able to move chairs and tables or adjust the lighting, but in general, we have to deal with … Continue reading →

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10 tips for setting up on the day of your presentation

Posted on 17/05/2018 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. ——— You’ve prepared your presentation and you’ve arrived … Continue reading →

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The Short Version

Posted on 07/05/2018 by

Has this ever happened to you? You’re asked to give a presentation. You’re told what the audience would like you to speak about. You’re told where and when the presentation will be given. You’re told how much time you have … Continue reading →

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Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 276) – Emma Bannister

Posted on 16/02/2018 by

“Invest the time and energy into planning a powerful presentation and your audience will invest their time and energy in you.” — Emma Bannister

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Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 267) – Arthur Ashe

Posted on 13/11/2017 by

“One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.” — Arthur Ashe Photo courtesy of Rob Bogaerts / Anefo

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Never do this on the day of a presentation!

Posted on 12/11/2017 by

Yesterday afternoon I had a four-hour speaking engagement. Most of the session was interactive, but it began with a 45-minute presentation for which I used some slides. Everything had been prepared well in advance, the slides were simple, I knew … Continue reading →

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Zen and the Art of Public Speaking

Posted on 17/10/2016 by

Robert Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was published in 1974. The book has sold more than 5 million copies and is widely considered a modern philosophical classic. In Zen, Pirsig discusses the metaphysics of quality. He explores the subject over the course of … Continue reading →

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Your Talk is a Gift

Posted on 04/04/2016 by

Seth Godin is the author of several books about “marketing, the spread of ideas and managing both customers and employees with respect”. They are bestsellers. His blog is one of my favourites and I highly recommend it. This post is part of … Continue reading →

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Noisli: A Simple, Effective Productivity Hack

Posted on 22/03/2016 by

Preparing a good speech or presentation takes time and focus, both of which are often in short supply these days. In this post, I’d like to offer you a suggestion that might help you with the latter. For the past … Continue reading →

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The Preparation Payoff

Posted on 11/03/2016 by

One of my clients is the EPFL Innovation Park (EIP). Located on the campus of the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, EIP has provided start-up coaching and acceleration for more than 20 years. EIP has teamed up with several key players in the entrepreneurship … Continue reading →

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