Is Humor Important for Presentations?
Yes. Absolutely. But here’s the catch. Humor in a corporate or media presentation is not about becoming a stand-up comedian. Or telling a joke as soon as you walk on stage. In fact, forced humor can be one of the fastest ways to lose your audience. Nothing creates more awkward silence than a speaker waiting […]
Should I Memorize an Important Presentation?
Never. EVER! Memorize your Presentation. Okay, that sounds a little dramatic. But after more than 25+ years of assisting executives, technical experts, and thought leaders communicate under pressure, I’ve seen one mistake happen repeatedly: Someone tries to memorize every single word of an important presentation. I understand why. The stakes are high. Maybe it’s a […]
Should I Write My Presentation on Paper First?
Yes and No. That may sound like a contradiction, but after decades of working with executives, engineers, entrepreneurs, and leaders preparing high-stakes oral presentations, we’ve learned something important. The way you write is not the way you speak. Most of us were taught to write before we were taught to communicate professionally. In grade school, […]
How Do I Get To Carnegie Hall?
Practice. Practice. Practice. There’s a reason that this old joke has endured for generations. Whether you’re a concert pianist, an athlete, or a CEO, excellence doesn’t happen by accident. It happens through preparation. Now let’s be clear about this. If you have an important presentation to make—live, online, or speaking extemporaneously in front of 100 […]