Tag Archives: public speaking

An important lesson from Bohemian Rhapsody

Posted on 29/11/2019 by

I finally got around to watching the film Bohemian Rhapsody. I was not disappointed. Queen is one of my all-time favourite bands and the driving force behind Queen was the inimitable Freddie Mercury. It’s hard to believe that it has been … Continue reading →

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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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Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 321) – Plato

Posted on 22/10/2019 by

“Rhetoric is the art of ruling the minds of men.” —  Plato Photo courtesy of Marie-Lan Nguyen / Wikimedia Commons

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“Duck and Cover” won’t help

Posted on 18/10/2019 by

In the years following World War 2, the threat of nuclear war hung over the world. As the United States and its allies faced the Soviet Union and its allies, a Third World War was a distinct possibility. Given the … Continue reading →

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Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 320) – Kurt Vonnegut

Posted on 16/09/2019 by

“You are whatever you pretend to be.“ — Kurt Vonnegut (For some great insights from Vonnegut that can help you become a better speaker, click here and here.)

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Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 319) – Nancy Duarte

Posted on 02/09/2019 by

“Research shows that people learn more effectively from multimedia messages when they’re stripped of extraneous words, graphics, animation and sounds.“ — Nancy Duarte

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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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Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 318) – Ronald Reagan

Posted on 13/08/2019 by

“I learned [during my time as a radio broadcaster] the fundamental rule of public speaking. Whether on the radio, on television or to a live crowd, talk to your audience, not over their heads or through them. Just use normal … 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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Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 317) – Richard Powers

Posted on 07/08/2019 by

“The best arguments in the world won’t change a person’s mind. The only thing that can do that is a good story.“ — Richard Powers Photo courtesy of www.richardpowers.net

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Lessons from Senegal – Part 2

Posted on 05/08/2019 by

Teranga. It is the word that best represents the values at the heart of society in Senegal. During my trip to Dakar, I experienced it on a daily basis. There is no direct translation of teranga in English. “Hospitality” comes close … Continue reading →

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Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 316) – Seth Godin

Posted on 03/08/2019 by

“The idea of marketing is this: Do you have a story that’s worth telling? Are there people who need to hear it and who want to hear it? And is it true? That’s marketing.“ — Seth Godin

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