Trying to master a mental task? Acting it out can help. In a study reported in Cognition, when kids were told to use gestures as they learned to do a type of math problem, the lesson stuck. Embodiment gives you–literally–another… Read More »Speaking Anxiety: Gestures Help You Think
I occasionally hear from clients that they don’t want to change their style as presenters. The implication is that any behaviors I recommend that are outside their range of normal will be artificial and ineffective. They just want to be… Read More »Presentation Coaching: Presenting Outside the Comfort Zone
With the average sales call in the pharmaceutical industry now shrunk to less than 30 seconds, medical liaisons have an important opportunity to engage the interest of key physicians at advisory board meetings. However, there are several common problems. First,… Read More »Facilitation skills for medical liaisons at ad boards
They are mostly women. I have now spent 20 years in the speech trade, and most of the people I run into who speak too fast are women. I have no idea why. I can only speculate. they are more… Read More »Speech Training: Speaking Above the Speed Limit
One of my consulting firm clients came to me with a problem that surprised me. Although they hire the most accomplished students from the most competitive colleges and B-schools, the firm is concerned about their unwillingness to speak up at… Read More »Speaking Anxiety: The Conference Room Comment
I know audiences don’t exactly jump for joy when attending presentations, but speakers are often puking in the bathroom minutes before they go on. I am interested in cures, or coping strategies, for intense speaker anxieties. We need to put… Read More »Public Speaking Tips: Fear and Loathing of Presentations