Many people acknowledge that President Obama is a good public speaker. At the same time, many note a significant difference in the quality of President Obama’s speech between those occasions when he uses a Teleprompter and those when he speaks… Read More »Public Speaking: On the use of TelePrompters
This article is based on a book preview in Fortune Magazine, Oct 27, 2008. The book is: Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin. We admire great performers and often attribute their success to a unique talent they have for their… Read More »How to acquire presentation skill, and any other skill
We are often asked to kick-off meetings. What’s the best way to get everyone focused on the task at hand, and demonstrate our own capacity for effective leadership? Start on time. Or, if you must delay, acknowledge those who are… Read More »Presentation Skills: Best practices for meeting kick-off
When does a polished speaker become slick? I ask this question because I occasionally see so-called “professional speakers” behaving in peculiar ways. They have developed a presentation “style” that doesn’t seem natural, that smacks of late night infomercials and snake… Read More »Public Speaking Training: Don’t get too slick
A sales exec I know was up for a plum gig—a rotation assignment in headquarters that would groom her for a promotion to Regional Director. She was confident that she’d get the job, and went to the interview thinking that… Read More »Corporate Training: People don’t want to be sold
I’ve been introduced with fanfare, and I’ve been introduced with a kind of shrug in my general direction, as if to say, “Hey Sims. You’re on.” I like fanfare, pomp and circumstance. But when it’s touting my resume and puffing… Read More »Presentation Techniques: In Praise of Informality