March 2011 Newsletter
Your Presentation Might Be a Snore If..."
Jeff Foxworthy once said “You might be a redneck if . . . you consider a six pack of beer and bug zapper to be quality entertainment.”
But how do you know if your presentation might be a snore?
As public service, I’d like to suggest some answers to that question.
Your presentation might be a snore if . . .
. . . at the bottom of your first slide it reads “1 of 82”.
. . .you start your talk by saying “I’ve got a lot to cover here today. So if you could hold your questions to the end.”
. . . rather than giving your point of view, your philosophy is “Let’s just show them the facts and let them decide.”
. . . rather than rehearsing out loud, you’re idea of practicing is to flip through your slides in your hotel room the night before the presentation.
. . .you never smile because “This stuff is serious.”
Free Communication Skills Seminar Webinar with Purchase of 20 or More Books.
If you’re looking for a great way to give your team communication skills coaching, consider buying 20 or more copies of Joey Asher’s newest book 15 Minutes Including Q&A: A Plan to Save the World from Lousy Presentations.
Along with the books, Speechworks President Joey Asher will provide a free one-hour seminar or webinar on the ideas contained in the book.
Does Being a Gentleman Have Business Value?
In the cut-throat business world, does it help to be a gentleman? And what does it mean to be a “gentleman” in the 21st century? Those are questions raised by a recent article in The Times of London. The author writes:
Trevor Pickett, the owner of the eponymous luxury leather goods brand Pickett, aims to do business “the right way”, but fears that he’s in a minority.
How To Thank People at the Beginning of Your Speech.
Several years ago, one of our coaches attended a speech by the president of a major industry association. This industry bigwig was speaking about the state of his business. After being introduced, he spent the first five minutes of his 20 minute speech thanking people for inviting him. That’s a quarter of his speech! And it went downhill from there.
It was a nightmare.
Public Speaking Tip From Harry Houdini.
“The easiest way to attract a crowd is to let it be known that at a given time and a given place someone is going to attempt something that in the event of failure will mean sudden death.”
Those are the words of the great magician and escape artist Harry Houdini. And his words bear consideration when you’re putting together a presentation.