Just 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 skirted… Read More »The wonders of vehemence
It is widely held that man is the only creature with language. But that may not be true. African vervet monkeys are always looking around for danger, and when they perceive a threat, they give an alarm that is specific… Read More »The first purpose of language and presentation
Once again, I am the speech coach who has run into a very accomplished person who mumbles. He’s on the fast track at a major American corporation, and his boss has gotten word that senior people can’t understand him when… Read More »Energetic Lips
We all know speaking too fast during our high stakes moments is not good, for us or our listeners. It makes us sound nervous, disorganized and hard to understand. So what can we do in private to teach ourselves to… Read More »How to stop speaking too fast during your high stakes presentation
It begins with an agonizing silence–The Duke of York standing at a microphone in Wembley Stadium trying to bring the world’s greatest exposition to a dignified conclusion for the entire British Empire listening on the radio. His stammering and stage… Read More »Movie Review: The King’s Speech
Most of us need training because: We are unaware. We don’t do what we want, or know how, to do. We don’t practice. We are not aware of how we come across. We have blind spots. Blind areas. Our education… Read More »Why you need presentation skills training