Calvin Wilson from Andersen Corporation shared in a recent class that his boss always says visual aids should be visual, consumable, and actionable. You probably know what we mean by visual (although not all slides are visually appealing) but what did he mean by consumable and actionable? Read more...

How do you feel about walking around?  The space I present in is rather large and to connect with my audience I feel like I should walk around. Read on to find out why walking around is not the answer, but moving with purpose just might be. 

When I speak in audiences that are more family or friend oriented I tend to get a little more emotional.  Not crying but a little choked up.  Is there techniques to counter that? In the answer you will learn three strategies for managing your emotions without becoming deadpan. 

How do you connect with an audience right away?  Do you ask them how they are doing? Or does that lead to unwanted responses? You know your audience best, but consider these strategies to make the connection successfully. 

Many of us report to our leaders in the form of data, lots of data. When they create visuals to convey this information, it is usually black and white and mostly in tiny font sizes. A few simple adjustments could make these slides work so much better. See if you could employ these simple improvements on your data slides. 

Similar to flying an airplane, the most critical parts of a presentation are the takeoff and landing. In presentations, the first minute or two is when you connect yourself and your topic to the interests of the audience. The last minute or two is when you “land” your message. 

If you have ever noticed yourself fading into the woodwork when you need to bring forth your best, you may need to ramp up your power for better results. Use these techniques if you are getting feedback that indicates you are coming across as “too soft” or “not forceful enough.” 

You’re sitting in a meeting and suddenly you are asked for a quick update on your current project. After a huge pause that seems an eternity, you come up with a response. Next time you are caught off guard, take these steps to think fast and save the day. 

One of our exercises involved sharing ideas for times when training schedules get heavy, and you are either traveling across the country, the world, or even across your city. Here are 27 tips we shared.

Once you have created and fully rehearsed your presentation, take time to celebrate! Then, wait for it…the butterflies begin circling around and you wonder: am I truly ready to deliver this presentation? 

Today let’s explore your preparation strategies, to be sure you will be and feel ready and focused when it is your time to shine.

What happened the last time you gave a presentation or delivered a training session? Did people come in late or leave early? Tune out or fall asleep? Engage in side conversations or work on their laptops or phones? All these behaviors are annoying and unproductive, both to you and to everyone else in the meeting or presentation. How can you reduce the bad behaviors without being the "bad guy" in the room? 

You have completed the difficult work of creating your presentation—and it is awesome! You have rehearsed thoroughly so that the entire presentation flows well from point to point, your slides are clear and appealing, and you have created an engaging beginning and a powerful ending. All well done. Then, the questions begin. The first one takes you by surprise. The second one is challenging. And the third one…well…it stumps you. Your fabulous presentation begins to feel rocky.

Don’t let this happen to you. With proper planning and a little practice, you can rock the Q&A as much as you do the rest of your presentation.

How do you know when you have really connected with your audience? Do you remember their names at the end of the session? How many people came up to you on breaks or after the session with a question or comment? And of course, how enthusiastic were they about the content? Use these tips to make meaningful connections with your next audience.