Diagnosis Without Technology Imagine you’re a doctor. You’re working with a patient who needs tests to determine the source of her abdominal pain. The only tool at your disposal is a stethoscope… no x-rays and no MRIs. This combined with your experience and training is all you have to make a proper diagnosis. How effective will you be? Based on your experience and competence, you might determine the problem. But, your work would be easier if you had more modern technology at your disposal. How This Relates To Communication Skills I’m a professional speaker, and public speaking and stor ..read more

  Empathy can increase your influence, trustworthiness, and likability. It can increase you impact as a leader or sales professional. It can also help you deepen relationships, which can have a profound impact on your career or your business. To watch the video, click here: Here are key ideas from the video: 0:28 – The difference between empathy and sympathy: Sympathy is more feeling based, you tend to feel sorrow or pity for others. Empathy is the demonstration on understanding and compassion for others. 1:47 – How do you improve your empathy? Ask questions and “label” the feelings and ..read more

  When I was a young, wanna-be professional speaker, I had a problem: Every time I spoke, my goal was to give a perfect speech. This was a symptom of my insecurity and inferiority complex. One area where this often reared its ugly head was in the area of filler words. My favorites were “um,” “err”, and “so.” I obsessed on eliminating them. Public speaking can be a daunting task for many people. The pressure to deliver a professional presentation can cause high levels of anxiety. This can lead to the use of filler words. Avoid The Myth In my early days of speaking, I bought into a myth ..read more

  Public speaking is a common fear among CEOs. Before taking “the big chair” they may not have had to speak in front of groups. However, as the face of the organization, it’s important they often stand up and speak. This could be to the board, executive teams, the organization, clients, or prospective clients. Speaking anxiety doesn’t have to hold you back. Here are seven insights to help you overcome your fear and become a confident, impactful, and influential presenter: 1. Focus on your audience.The people in front of you want you to succeed. They’re too busy to have their time wasted ..read more

    Imagine you’re sitting in an auditorium with 150 other people. You’re listening to a speaker who’s talking about one of your favorite topics. The presentation is enlightening and energetic, but, something’s missing. After the presentation, you have a revelation: You felt like the speaker was talking at you, and not with you. When we feel talked at, it seems like we’re listening to a lecture from a disengaged presenter. It’s not a two-way conversation. You may remember the talk, but chances are you won’t. How To The Deepen Connection With Your Audience, And Keep Their Attention W ..read more

  Are You in Love With Your Speech? I’m driving home after giving a speech at a big conference. I’m feeling down. Have you ever felt frustrated, but not known why? I’m thinking, “I didn’t connect with the audience. They were polite, but something was missing. What was it?” This question played over and over in my head for an hour when it hit me… “I know why! I wasn’t in love with this speech.”   I like the stories I told and the message they support. But, I no longer feel the impact they once had. Five years earlier, they’d given me insights which I needed during a difficult time. B ..read more

    When a rocket takes off from the Launchpad, it needs a major boost of energy to get started. Without it, it never leaves the Earth. The same can be said for your stories. Without energy, they won’t grab and keep the attention of your listeners. Regarding stories, what is energy?? It’s the passion and enthusiasm with which you present. Some professional speakers believe this accounts, for at least half of the influence of your presentation. Imagine This Scenario You’re sitting in an auditorium with 350 other people. For weeks, you’ve eagerly anticipated hearing the featured speak ..read more

  A recent post, we discussed the most important part of a presentation.  There are several key elements, but by far the most important is: The thoughts and feelings of the audience listening to you. If you missed that post, you can read it: CLICK HERE  The Negative Impact of Poor Mechanics Audience members thoughts and feelings are most important. But, there are other elements to focus on so that you provide the best possible experience. Imagine you’re listening to a well-known speaker. During his speech, you notice that every 30 seconds, he runs his right hand through his hai ..read more

A question I often hear about storytelling is, “Does my story have to be true?” What is your knee-jerk reaction to this question? The first time I heard this question, my emotional response was, “Yes! Anything else would be a lie.” I had plenty of ‘proof’ to back this feeling: – Salespeople who omit information that impact my buying decision – Politicians who twist facts that impact my vote – Scientists who hold back data that impact my belief about an important topic. – Children who suffer from memory loss because they can’t tell me which one of them broke the expensive lamp. There are count ..read more

I was listening to an interview featuring a Hall of Fame speaker. She said something that on the surface sounded harsh. But, as a storytelling coach I agreed with. She said: “Quit thinking that anyone cares about your personal story.” The idea of sharing of your personal narrative has become popular in business. I make my living helping people tell their stories. Yet, I also believe we have to stop telling yet another personal story. The Caveat To This Belief People don’t care about another life-changing story, unless: It’s wrapped around tips, strategies or processes that can improve their l ..read more