Whether you’re participating in a news media interview, giving a presentation, or simply sitting in a meeting, there’s always a chance you will get hard questions. How you answer can affect how your audience hears and perceives you. Most of us use some type of stalling technique when we’re asked hard questions. Common techniques include …
At a conference I attended last week, I paid close attention to all the presenters and the audience’s reactions. Some of the presenters engaged the audience and clearly captured their attention. Here’s what I noticed about those speakers: They used the word “you” frequently, so the audience knew the content was about them. They had …
Continue reading “Presenting? See what great presenters have in common”
Once again, I didn’t set out to write a blog about presenters while watching an episode of the YouTube talk show Hot Ones. (My previous blog inspired by the show is here.) All I wanted to do was watch the host interview Conan O’Brien as he ate a series of hotter and hotter chicken wings. …
Continue reading “Presenters: Don’t let the audience in on your doubts”
Recently I’ve had several clients ask me how to handle naysayers when presenting. Most of us have heard that presenting and public speaking are some of the world’s greatest fears, often ranking higher than death. Wondering how to handle naysayers can make presenting even more scary. Presenting internally and externally is one of the best …
Continue reading “Are you afraid of naysayers when presenting?”
Have you ever made a mistake while presenting? We all have, and it can be unnerving. I still remember my first mistake while giving a presentation, some 20 years or more ago. I was presenting for the first time in my career to people several years my senior. And instead of “everything is flowing smoothly,” …
The easier to use, the likelier your message will spread What makes a marketing message great? Your audience craves hearing a message that tells them what’s in it for them (WIIFM), leading with the benefits they stand to gain. A great marketing message is: Clear, so even non-experts understand it Concise, to hook attention quickly …