Speaking Skills

When No News Isn't Good News: What You Team Members Want To Know About Change

When No News Isn’t Good News: What You Team Members Want To Know About Change

Your organization is undergoing a significant change, and your team is worried. They want to know all the details about the change. Right now. Trouble is, all the details are not yet spelled out. Plus you have been asked to wait to talk about some aspects of the  change until others have been notified. No […]

How to be Sure Your Listeners are "Getting it"

How to be Sure Your Listeners are “Getting it”

Whether you are training, leading a meeting, or giving a formal presentation, effective speaking is more than just “telling.” It is also about making sure your listeners get the message you intend. To be sure your listeners understand and remember what you have said, select from these strategies, depending on the situation and your comfort […]

How to Choose the Right Words

How to Choose the Right Words

Do you ever get tongue-tied when you speak? Have trouble thinking of the right words to make your point? It’s frustrating when you can’t automatically find the right words. Let’s think about why that happens, and how you can build more fluency in your speech. First, consider the redundancy in word choices. When you are […]

How to Ace Your Next Q&A Session

Ever dread the questions that come up during your presentation? Not sure what people will ask? Not sure how to answer under pressure? Before your next big presentation, prepare yourself for Q&A. Use these tips to ensure you are calm and focused: Before the presentation: Predict what questions your audience members might ask. Consider adding […]

10 Tips for Speaking with Focus and Composure

10 Tips for Speaking with Focus and Composure

These days we all seem to be engaged in multi-tasking, running from one meeting to another without a moment’s reflection in between. There is barely a moment to catch our breath, let alone time to mentally prepare for the next meeting. It’s stressful and exhausting, especially when you need to speak or present. It should […]

Communication During a Crisis

Communication During a Crisis

An accident happens in one of your plants. Your firm’s product is found faulty. A disgruntled employee brings a lawsuit against your firm. Suddenly, all eyes are on you, from the press to the public to your organization’s people. As a leader, how do you think clearly and communicate professionally and correctly under the gun? […]

10 Quick Tips for Better Voice Habits

10 Quick Tips for Better Voice Habits

1. Listen to your outgoing phone messages for a few days. How are your vocal habits and voice quality? These are habits you can practice every day. 2. For better projection, open your mouth wider, so that you can articulate each word clearly. This helps with both volume and enunciation. 3. To reduce vocal stress, […]

15 Quick Tips for Delivering Slides and Visual Aids

Slide shows getting boring? Next time you get ready to deliver a presentation using slides, review this list and commit to delivering your slides with impact. Decide if a slideshow is really needed. If it adds value to the audience, use it. If you are using it as a crutch, skip it. Don’t just tell. […]

Face it; Your Face is Showing: How to Manage Your Facial Expression When You Speak

Face it; Your Face is Showing: How to Manage Your Facial Expression When You Speak

There was Mary, with a goofy smile on her face, telling her audience about a serious situation they were going to be facing. They had a hard time buying it. There stood Frank, welcoming new customer to a plant tour, with a sour, grim facial expression. They didn’t feel the vibe. Do facial expressions matter? […]