It’s a familiar and dreaded question… “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” or “What are your New Year’s Resolutions?” Goals and resolutions are well-intentioned, yet can feel burdensome, another add-on to an already unfinished list of “to do’s.” Don’t get me wrong – reflecting on the bird’s eye perspective of your life is a …
3 Ways to Command a Room and Claim Your Space
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: to negotiate a procedural change between departments. And so far she is doing great. She engages her audience, listens to their ideas and input – a brilliant negotiation strategy. But before she even started …
Is Listening Like Eating More Vegetables?
I’m a presentation and communication coach, so why is “Listen” the first word in my tagline, and not the third? Because listening attunes us to our audience – whether that is one on one with a client, leading a meeting or presenting to a large audience. For those of us in the business of working collaboratively, building relationships, serving clients and …
A Secret to Public Speaking AND A Sneak Peek of Our Speaker’s Learning Lab
Did you read Wild by Cheryl Strayed? Perhaps you saw the recent movie adaptation starring Reese Witherspoon. Wild documents the story of Strayed’s 1,100 mile solo hike along the Pacific Coast Trail. In her memoir about this journey of endless challenges and confronting her strength inside and out, Strayed fondly refers to her overly packed and burdensome backpack as “Monster.” It’s big, heavy, and…well…a …
The Power of the Pause
Hit the snooze button! Think before you speak! Re-read your emails before sending! Count to 10 when angry! Take a deep breath! Pause in these situations and you may save the day. Pause in your presentation and you will make a great impression. ~Pausing is dynamic tool your presentation delivery.~ Here’s a perfect example: While watching a trailer for …