Storytelling is a hot topic these days. The ability to develop and deliver a compelling narrative can give you a competitive edge as a leader or in the marketplace. But, many people struggle to craft memorable stories because they don’t know the foundational elements of impactful narratives. Check out this brief clip from my recent interview on Mark Iorio’s Rainmaker’s Round Up show. CLICK HERE. We discuss the key elements of a meaningful business story. To watch our entire interview, CLICK HERE ..read more

Do you find it challenging to capture a business audience’s attention right from the start? Stories are a terrific way to begin a presentation. Professional speakers and TED talk presenters have the luxury of jumping straight into a story, but business audiences demand  more context up-front.. So, here’s a way you can hook your listeners so that they want to hear more: Start with one orienting sentence that grabs attention and hints at the story’s value without giving away the ending. Here are three examples: “The day I discovered the power of storytelling started out as an epic fail ..read more

These Three Presentation Pillars Enable You To Manage Your Fear Confidently stand in front of a group (or camera) and deliver a meaningful message and you boost your impact, influence, and reputation. But, many people fear this simple action. Not for the reason most people think. Either imagined embarrassment or remembering past experiences can increase this anxiety. If this fear keep you from presenting to others, you are not alone. It doesn’t have to control you. With the right strategies and techniques, you can become a confident and effective speaker, no matter the situation. One of the m ..read more

For years, I’ve suggested that presenters re-connect with key moments in their story so that the audience feels like they’re experiencing it with them. My intent has been to help speakers recreate emotions. A Better Perspective Recently (OK, this afternoon) I heard a different perspective that makes this suggestion more clear. It’s this insight from director, actor, and acting coach Jason Cannon: Storytelling isn’t about telling WHAT you experienced; it’s about recreating HOW you experienced it. This perfectly sums up the difference between delivering a presentation and creating an experience ..read more

If you want to improve as a presenter, feedback is essential. When you implement valuable insights into your presentations, make adjustments, and improve your material, your impact will skyrocket. Master this skill, and you will master the art of presentations and storytelling. Not All Feedback Is Created Equal Why? Because everyone has their own opinion about what a “valuable” evaluation is. That’s why it’s crucial to request specific feedback. By guiding people about what you want to hear, their insights will be more valuable to you. So, what type of feedback will most effectively supe ..read more

The Three Pillars Of High Impact Storytelling Will Transform Your Results! Imagine you’re standing before your ideal audience, giving your carefully prepared and rehearsed presentation. If you nail this one, your impact will be greatly enhanced. You’re excited about telling your story because you’ve been told storytelling is a vital part of every memorable talk. But, while delivering your narrative, you notice the audience is restless, even getting distracted. This rattles you, but you plow through your narrative because you’re not sure what else to do. At the end of your talk, you receive an ..read more

  Imagine you’re working with a brand new client. This is someone who you were introduced to by a trusted friend, and you want to do excellent work. You’re co-hosting a virtual presentation for this individual. If it goes well, this could be a mutually beneficial long-term relationship. You practice, rehearse, and prepare all your slides, videos, audio and polls. You prepare for the worst. You have a contingency contingency plan in case something goes wrong. 15 minutes into the presentation… it happens. The ONE problem you’ve never experienced and couldn’t have planned for. You can’t do ..read more

My friend Dan is a top-notch business consultant. Recently he was advising a client on how to effectively demonstrate her company’s value. He told her, “If you tell stories you can effectively demonstrate your vision and mission.” Her response? “Dan, we don’t have any stories like that.” This got my attention. Dan’s client shared a sentiment I often hear. It reveals one of two problems most businesses face: They have relevant stories, but leaders don’t understand which ones are most impactful or how to effectively structure them. The company isn’t living up to its stated values. If there a ..read more

Imagine you’re listening to a presentation that instantly captures your interest and attention. It’s a topic you enjoy and want to learn more about. But, after several minutes, you feel your brain shutting down — there’s too much information, too many graphs, and too many visuals. So, you do what any overwhelmed human being does, you stop listening. Most likely, you grab your phone to relieve the tension. The presenter has missed a golden opportunity to leave a positive impression on you. Ensnared By A Common Presentation Trap Many speakers and leaders fall into the trap of believing that mor ..read more

Start This One Habit To Supercharge Your Impact In an ideal world, speakers continuously work on their presentation to ensure they create maximum impact. With high stakes talks, if you master your message, you’ll deliver meaningful and memorable material in a manner that creates a bond with your listeners. But, there’s a catch—continuously tinkering with your presentation can lead to diminishing returns. The more you fuss over minor details, the greater the risk of diluting your message. You lose the essence of what makes your talk impactful. Freeze The Design So, embrace the concept of “free ..read more