Don’t make your audience unsubscribe from your speech
I just sent this in response to “Why are you unsubscribing from us?” (on the third screen you had to click through to unsubscribe): The constant stream of “ALERT!” “URGENT” and other messages just got too much. If everything is urgent, then nothing is. I know the data...
Nine deadly (boring) sins: Will your speech put your audience to sleep?
There are conference keynotes, presentations and panels that leave you breathless and excited, inspired to go forth and do something momentous. And then… there are the other ones. The sad fact is a lot of conference content just isn’t all that good. I can...
Don’t be fooled by Resting Audience Face
You’re trucking along in your speech, performing with verve and passion, and look out to the crowd… …only to see face after face that looks completely unresponsive. Hell, you think. They hate this. I’m losing them. And, you know what? Maybe you are. But...
Don’t just read your speech. Perform it.
There’s a big conceptual leap that absolutely transforms a speaker’s connection with an audience, and magnifies their impact tremendously. It’s the leap from reading a speech… to actually, authentically performing it. Instead of a recitation,...
Speaking at a rally? Here’s how to make it count.
If you work with a mission-driven organization, you may find yourself speaking at a political rally soon. (Maybe sooner than you think, the way things are going.) You may be there to offer a short greeting and encouragement, or to deliver a rousing featured address,...
Why, yes — I’d LOVE to speak at your event
Public speaking and speechwriting: the essential guides
Looking for advice on public speaking, speechwriting and leadership communications? Here are some of my most comprehensive posts, on topics that people ask me about most often.
