Presentation Skills

Dread speaking? 6 ways to overcome it

August 13, 2010

The South by Southwest festivals and conferences each spring feature many experts, some of whom are not expert speakers. One of them, Thom Singer, has written a book, The ABC’s of Speaking, geared especially for the shy expert. He has six recommendations:

Lesson from 9/11: Use what you’ve got

August 13, 2010

James Laychak’s brother Dave died at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. Every day afterward, Laychak would wait for information and share his grief with others at the Pentagon’s family assistance center. Later, when he was named president of the Pentagon Memorial Fund, which needed $30 million, Laychak brought all his skills to the task.

The enemy: PowerPoint

June 14, 2010

U.S. Brig. Gen. H.R. McMaster likens PowerPoint to an internal threat. “It’s dangerous because it can create the illusion of understanding and the illusion of control,” he says. “Some problems in the world are not bullet-izable.” He’s one of many who see the limits of PowerPoint, despite the central role it plays in their daily lives.

Leadership Tips: Vol. 610

May 17, 2010
Pull audience members’ attention away from their BlackBerrys by asking a lot of questions, says Shaun Rein, managing director of China Market Research Group … How did Apple sell more than $150 million worth of iPads on the product’s launch day? It spent 25 years earning the privilege of delivering personal and relevant messages to their customers, says blogger and author Seth Godin …

Capturing a crowd

April 12, 2010
Even pro presenters can put some shine on their communication skills. Mary Civiello, an executive coach and author of Communication Counts: Business Presentations for Busy People, offers four tips to be your best in front of a crowd:

Where’s the trust in leadership?

March 12, 2010

Why doesn’t the public trust CEOs? Consumers are slightly more confident in business honchos this year, compared to last year, reports the Edelman Trust Barometer. But CEO credibility still remains low, and the survey suggests at least one reason why:

4 e-mail don’ts

March 12, 2010

We’re not the e-mail aficionados we believe we are. Too many of us rush, miss chances to build relationships or forget to convey key information. Here are four mistakes to avoid: 1. Don’t use vague subject lines. 2. Don’t bury the news. 3. Don’t mash everything into a paragraph. 4. Don’t cut it short.

Garrison Keillor on the elusive art of storytelling

January 11, 2010

When author and radio host Garrison Keillor was asked how he had mastered both written and oral storytelling—a critical skill for every leader—he said he hadn’t. “You love the attempt,” he explained …

How scenarios help you lead

January 11, 2010

Preparing for the unexpected is what allows you to keep a steady hand when guiding your company. Scenarios are a powerful tool to that end. Here’s how to use them right:

5 lessons from $5 Footlongs

December 11, 2009

You’d think it would have been easy for Miami Subway franchise owner Stuart Frankel to win everyone over to the $5 Footlong, right? Not so fast, my friends. Even though he was raking in the dough, Frankel had to work hard to convince the top brass at Subway that the $5 Footlong was the way to go. Here are five lessons for anyone who is trying to convince senior leadership to take a good idea and run with it.