Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Speaking skills”
There’s plentiful advice on the internet for those seeking to be a better listener? In all that advice, one key quality is given less attention: Curiosity. Before we get to listening, let’s take an inventory. Are you a slider or a diver? Here’s what you do when you “slide.” You ask a friend or colleague “how was your weekend?” Something they …
In eighteen years of working her way to Senior Vice President of a bank, Stacy avoided invitations for public speaking. Comfortable leading board meetings, committees and speaking to clients, Stacy stayed in her safe zone. Stand and speak in front of 500 people? No thanks. An invitation to speak at a large community event landed on her desk. Terrified and …
“Space is in fact, a living event. Space is potential” ~ Bruce A. Bergner, Set Designer Jackie is a lead engineer who also happens to be 5’2” and petite. I watch as she gives a presentation to her colleagues. Her goal: negotiate a procedural change between departments. She is doing a great job: engages her audience and listens to their ideas …
After 23 years teaching high school, I’m still not immune to disinterested and dissatisfied attendee’s expressions. As I begin a training for 15 company managers, Jerri’s expression says, “I don’t want to be here and I’m pissed that I am.” You’ve seen them, attending your meeting, speech or participating in your training: yawning, looking at their watch, checking text messages or slumped …
In the movie, The Big Short, Ryan Gosling’s character, Jared Vennett is standing at a table in front of 3 colleagues. Piece by piece, he slowly builds a Jenga wooden structure. At its highest point, he swings his hand, knocks it over and the wooden pieces scatter across the table. “What is that?” asks one of the men sitting at the table. Jared Vennett pauses, stares at the man asking, …
