Speeches and presentations

If you’re the one chosen to deliver an unforgettable anniversary or wedding speech in front of family and friends, don’t let the special occasion rattle you. Instead, follow this simple advice.   Last weekend I had the honor of delivering a speech and offering a toast during a small family gathering to celebrate my parents’ […]

Inspirational leadership is what CEOs and business leaders everywhere strive constantly to provide. When leaders find themselves struggling to find just the right words, often it is helpful to go back in history for some quiet study and reflection.   Abraham Lincoln is the first of four U.S. presidents examined in Doris Kearns Goodwin’s 2018 book, […]

Even “ordinary” speeches call for effective leadership communication techniques. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s Budget 2020 speech offers concrete ideas and inspiration for CEOs and business leaders everywhere.   Nations and businesses worldwide are opening back up – albeit slowly – after months of strict lockdowns since the coronavirus began traipsing across the globe. […]

Don’t give in to temptation. All those digital tools available for your virtual keynote presentation should complement – not replace – time-tested methods to engage and persuade your audience.   No doubt you’ve been attending virtual events these days. Perhaps you’ve even delivered a virtual keynote presentation as more business is conducted online. Around the […]

The fate of your keynote speech has been up in the air for weeks, and today you finally got the word: That association meeting or annual conference you were eagerly anticipating will now be a virtual event because the coronavirus remains a threat.   What does that mean for you and your keynote speech? You […]

Use this checklist to determine if you are making mistakes with your presence when you speak in public:   1. Are you using your bio as your opening (“but first, a little bit about me”)? Inexperienced speakers sometimes bait and switch: They open by tempting the audience with the promise of a fascinating topic – […]

Use this checklist to determine if you are making mistakes with your message when you speak in public:   1. Are you being unclear about your purpose? If you can’t state in one sentence the purpose of your talk, you’ll find yourself including information that does not connect, is irrelevant or both. The fix: Take […]

Use this checklist to determine if you are making mistakes with your style when you speak in public:   1. Are you failing to reveal a little bit of yourself and your personality to the audience? As humans, we crave connection. The moment you reveal something about yourself to your audience is the moment you […]

Use this checklist to determine if you are making mistakes with your voice when you speak in public:   1. Are you mumbling? If you mumble, you may be perceived as not credible and not competent (plus, you’ll frustrate your audience). The fix: Practice enunciating every word you say.   2. Are you talking too […]

Want to motivate yourself as a public speaker? Read motivational speeches that inspired action. This is part five of a five-part series showcasing speeches throughout history that changed the world.   SPEECH: “A Great People Has Been Moved to Defend a Great Nation” SPEECH DATE: Sept. 11, 2001 SPEAKER: George W. Bush BIG IDEA: We have […]