There was the “Clinton thumb”–which most likely originated with John F. Kennedy. Nixon’s “V for victory” at the helicopter door. Although he used it a few times before 1974. And the “Dole pen”–a prop he carried in his right hand.… Read More »Political Gesture du Jour
Just got back from a trip to the West coast, where I was working with people at the top of the food chain in terms of their cognitive intelligence. Yale, Stanford, Notre Dame–brainiacs. My assignment? Help them get presence! I… Read More »Vehemence aids eloquence
I am tired of expert speakers. Content, shmontent. Everyone is expert in something. I want a wise speaker. For instance, presentations are not about your data. They’re about what you think about your data. The Caduceus, the symbol of medicine, makes this… Read More »Content, Shmontent
Whenever you give yourself a compliment in front of an audience, you run the risk of being seen in a negative light. For instance, telling stories about how you won a big piece of business by being a super salesman… Read More »Don’t Boast
Forget about policy. Forget about the debate on whether or not he’s a narcissist or an egotist or both–a misguided missile with delusional certainty or a potential and dangerous strongman who will clean up the mess and make America great… Read More »10 Things “The Donald” Does Well
Are you trying to impress a client, get a job, or close a deal? Then skip the emails and pick up the phone or schedule a meeting. New research reported in a recent New York Times article shows that “text-based… Read More »The Best Way to Showcase Your Smarts