To continue the story. I was nearly pickpocketed on the subway in Athens recently, and I’m convinced presenters can learn something from the art of “boosting.” Pickpockets intend to harm, and speakers intend to help, but both use similar techniques.… Read More »Pickpockets are good presenters
I was told to watch out for pickpockets in Athens, in particular the mustard trick, how on the metro they spill mustard on you, apologize, and wipe it off with a dirty napkin while their co-conspirators take advantage of your… Read More »Pickpockets, magic, and the art of getting attention
Just sat through a talk with a long and useless introduction concerning what the speaker had considered saying but decided against, how he stumbled upon his approach to the topic, and finally, the five elements of it he planned to… Read More »Public speaking error # 17
It just so happens I have two clients who talk too much in public. Both are extremely bright, and both strive to speak as though they were writing lapidary prose. When in the act of public speaking, they challenge themselves… Read More »Public Speaking: The professorial approach
I’m in Athens exploring the origins of public speaking. I’ve always been fascinated by rhetoric, and I’ve finally pulled the trigger and launched myself back into the 5th century BC. Because Athens was a democracy, they needed leaders who were… Read More »The psychology of persuasive speaking
Psychologists have demonstrated that people approve of differing responses to crime when it is presented as either a ‘beast’ or a ‘virus’ ravaging society. In the case of the ‘beast’ metaphor, respondents were more likely to call for strong law… Read More »Presentation Tips and Tricks: The Power of Metaphor