Three Public Speaking Tips to Ratchet Up Your Presentation Skills

July 9th, 2011 Posted in Blog

This is why I love what I do:

Every day I learn about what gets people out of bed in the morning. Their passions, dreams, innovations, and tenacity. How can life be better than that?

Often people who do amazing things want to share them. The best way to do that? Take the stage! Crow from rooftops and give others an opportunity to listen and be part of the vision.

Check out what Mike Matas is up to in this TED video – how cool is that?

What does Mike do right while presenting his innovative software?

1. He is humble and comfortable in his own skin. Notice his relaxed breathing and posture.

2. Mike jumps right in and captures us immediately. No long diatribe of the project’s history or who Mike is.

3. Mike tells us a story and leads us through the possibilities. My mind churns with what I could create – Mike lights the sparks.

Note what a brilliant facilitator Chris Anderson is. I had a few questions and realized that Mike had some holes in his presentation – Chris took to the stage and led Mike along to answer the questions that likely many audience members had. Chris was able to guide Mike to create a full circle presentation that would facilitate complete understanding of this very cool software.

I don’t know about you but I can’t wait for this software to be available not only to publishers but for mainstream use. Oh, the possibilities!

To your voice,
Janice


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Five Best Public Speaking and Presentation Design Blogs

July 3rd, 2011 Posted in Blog

My go to public speaking and presentation resource treasure trove (aka learn from the experts – no need to rinse and repeat the mistake cycle):

Duarte Design: Nancy Duarte and her team generously share their deep and broad presentation knowledge. Nancy is the author of slide:ology and resonate – two go-to-guides for building professional presentations. The Duarte team showcase the subtle nuances that separate good speakers from excellent ones. Here’s my favourite post to date, which outlines the musicality of presentation content design.

The Eloquent Woman is written by Denise Graveline. Denise’s journalistic and communications background hone in on presentation and public speaking tips and techniques. I am always on the lookout for examples of powerful women speakers to share with my clients and Denise graciously has created a brilliant compilation.

The world’s your oyster at TED the amazing platform where ideas worth spreading are, well, spread. TED presentation’s span themes and styles. The site hosts the fabulous to the not so fabulous and is great fodder for discovering what works and doesn’t. All time fav – Evelyn Glennie, a deaf drummer, who champions the importance of listening. I’ve watched this clip over and over again.

IDEATRANSPLANT is the site for juicy and luscious presentation design. Jan Schultink, a presentation developer located in Israel, is the master of building slidedecks that connect message to emotion.

And last but certainly not least – Ana Foureaux Frazao of AnaFxFz creates gorgeous slidedecks – her graphic design smarts is impeccable. Ana created the PowerPoint (TM) for Guy Kawasaki’s “Enchantment“, which I saw in real life at the Art of Marketing Conference in Vancouver and will vouch for its awesomeness.

Enjoy and to your voice!

Janice

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Authenticity Supersedes Script Reading

December 10th, 2010 Posted in Blog

Between you and me, I dislike the word authenticity. It is worn out and many undeserved types wear the badge and shouldn’t.

But I couldn’t come up with a word more appropriate for Will Phillips, the forthright young man from Arkansas who refused to recite the daily “Pledge of Allegiance” in his classroom. I missed this story that went viral early in 2010 – my apology to those for whom this is stale news…

Will’s issue is that the pledge calls for equality and justice for all and until there really is equality for all he won’t be a hypocrite and participate in the ritual of reciting it. Good on you Will, I’m in your court. Huevos at his young age, clearly articulating his disagreement to status quo.

And I digress. My reason for this musing is to share that it is possible to read a script and still enrapture your audience. I couldn’t take my eyes and ears off of this clip of Will accepting the 2010 GLAAD award.

Many of us are required to present from a script because we don’t have time to practice or it is important that we recite stats with precision. But do your audience a favour, if you love your job and feel privileged to take centre stage, speak from your heart – from your (authentic) real self.

Will Phillips’ Acceptance Speech at the 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards

*GLAAD – The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation – Words and Images Matter


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I’ve Been Shifted ~ Have You?

September 12th, 2010 Posted in Blog

Two, yes count them, two, ideation creating presentations two days in a row.

Why would I run on about attending mind blowing presentations. Aren’t they all like that?

No, many run the range from milk toast to just plain crap. Under-practiced, no point, no emotion, etc. We’ve all endured more than our share.

What made these two special? They opened me up to changing my outlook and they ran raw and deep with emotion and heat. They made me squirm with discomfort about some of my own closed thinking, made me laugh, and had me nodding in agreement. Different than many presentations that bring images to mind of Charlie Brown adults spouting blah, blah, blah.

I attended Shifted with no expectations. Everything about the evening worked. District 319 in Vancouver is an unexpected gem of a theatre. It is located in Vancouver’s toughest neighbourhood – a refurbished jewel – the theatre not the neighbourhood. The lobby is a casual spot to meet people with a bar situated in the middle. The theatre space ushers you in with carmine red leather lounge seats. So comfortable, and drinks are welcome to join you. Civilized!

It was the speakers and the organizers who were the ruby. All spoke from the heart. As simple as that. No magic. They’ve all lived lives with the drive to embrace a shift. Right or wrong they took the dive.

Chloe Gow-Jarrett has a raw talent for creating an event. She collaborated with a team bar-none along with the help of her husband who blatantly adores her. Reading her blog posts illuminates her success – she had the guts to let go and trust them.

Chloe invited five speakers who hold some notoriety here on the west coast of Canada. Although a few fly humbly under the radar.

First up was Danielle LaPorte of White Hot Truth fame. I know of Danielle through her blog, Twitter feed, a quick electric hello at a conference, and knew nothing of her before life. She rode high in her other life. She chose, at an apex moment, another. Danielle has a gift – she allows you to feel what she feels while carrying us along in a story of learning.

David Bentall cracked open the door to his broken spirit and bleak marriage. He exposed the nastiness of criticism in a marriage and at work. David lived in a broken marriage for 10 years. “Something” held him there – he didn’t leave – but he did finally understand and he grew.

My friend Darlene Carty asked David this pointed question, ” When you came to the decision to change, was it for your own survival or the love of your wife and family?” David candidly responded, “At first for my self, than I realized it was the love of my wife and our family.” Heavy stuff and a testament of the courage to share.

As did Andrea Baxter.

I’ve met Andrea Baxter a few times. She is a driven and honest young woman. Andrea works hard. While working at her dream job- just acquired – she was offered another. Andrea took us through the process of making a momentous decision. And shared with us what a leap of faith looks like. She told us that once you make the leap it gets easier every time.

And the next speaker told us about leaping with the support of friends and his own determination.

When Tyler Mosher told us about breaking his back he made me feel the impact. While he spoke I was stuck to the leather seat and couldn’t move. He made me cry and he made my heart feel heavy. Tyler also made my chest feel big with his insight into valiant courage and the support of true friends.

The final speaker was Joel Solemn. He was the reason that I came to the event. I have been to Hollyhock on Cortes Island, that he and a band of like minded souls built. I’ve watched how Joel expanded into creating an investment fund that supports social change. And I knew that he was sick with chronic kidney disease and that a dear friend had donated her kidney to him. Simply, thank you for sharing your journey.

Are these people special? No, they are you and me.


Image attribution: Jason V

Part II to come – Luncheon for Ovarian Cancer Awareness ~ Featuring Virginia Greene


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Best of Blogs and Ideation Resources

August 29th, 2010 Posted in Blog

There are a few blogs and Twitter streams that are my go-to for inspiration and learning. And only a select few that are on my constant radar.

Why?

Quality writing and brilliant ideation. This world holds some brilliant people whose ideas I’d never considered, ways of thinking I’ve never had the privilege to be introduced to, and pre-Social Media I would never have met them.

They get my juices flowing.

What does this have to do with you, the grasshopper, who drops by this site to learn tips and techniques to speak with aplomb (love that word, isn’t it cool?) in the public speaking arena?

These authors and their words are a rich resource for speaking topics and dinner conversation:

My number one is not rocket science but I can’t help myself, I have a crush on him. He would be one of those people that if I would have him over for one of those special mind throbbing and idea sharing dinners.


Yes, Mr. Seth Godin

With a name like Erika Napoletano and the graphic in her tab, you can only expect a firebrand. She is! Erika makes me laugh – the big belly kind and she makes me think. Hard. She makes me think about what it means to be a woman and what it means to stand up and make a difference. She is one of my very special shares: The Redhead Writing She tweets too: @RedheadWriting – good for a coffee choke in the morning. I’d like her at my elbow at my dinner party.

Bit Rebels – Ideas, Ideas, Ideas. No more needs to be said, except the contributors are Misty Balardo, Diana Adams, and Richard Darell. They would be seated in the middle to bat ideas around.


Roger Ebert has been through the trials of a daunting illness. He has shown us human strength at it’s finest and his wife has allowed us a glimpse into what it means to stand fast and hard in a relationship. Mr. Ebert would not have come to mind as someone I would have invited to my dinner party when he was doing Syskill and Ebert.

Now, when he is focusing on writing – and he is prolific – I am gaining insight into what a master writer/author is. He has taught me the evolution of ideas and growth. His writing is eloquent and thoughtful. From his writing I am learning how to be a better writer. I’d like to seat him at my other elbow.

Tanveer Naseer, a fellow Canadian, is a thoughtful and brilliant man. He writes on leadership and I’ve watched his writing grow and inspire others. Amongst other things, he says he is a nice guy and unabashedly he should, because he is. He is the father of two young girls who he is supporting to be strong women who he is leading to believe in all that is possible.


The pages of Drive, written by Daniel Pink, are burning through my fingers even though I’m trying to savour them. I think I’m just going to read it again when I’m finished. Why does it resonate so clearly? Because it is confirming what intrinsically I already knew.


The drive to learn and create comes from within. It can’t be boxed in a cubicle with a time clock ticking. It can’t be bought. It is difficult to gain some level of mastery over what you choose to learn and no one is ever a complete master. But when you are in the zone – I call it Nirvana and Pink calls it flow – that is as good as it gets. It’s a toss up for whose at the other head of the table.

What a dinner party it should be…

Would you like to join us?


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Workshop Deconstructed

April 10th, 2010 Posted in Blog

Recording_SF

I’m experimenting with Cinch’s Beta version. Hear a glimpse of what I learned in San Francisco about what it takes to run a successful workshop.

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Communication connection & engagment

October 5th, 2009 Posted in Blog, Communication

With my Saturday morning coffee I usually read the online version of the New York Times. My favourite section is the “One in Eight Million”. Everyday New Yorkers are profiled with sharp photos and video clips. The interviewer asks questions that most would be uncomfortable to ask. We get inside of people like us but deep and personal.

A clip that I often go to when I need communication inspiration is the profile of  the tolerance teacher. He sums up communication — how communication is received depends on the circumstance.

http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/nyregion/1-in-8-million/index.html?scp=1&sq=one%20in%20eight%20million&st=cse

And check out the mozzarella lady when you are having a low energy day. She is in her nineties and still pulling and selling the mozzarella.

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My hero — Winston

September 25th, 2009 Posted in Blog

“Writing a book (blog & website) was an adventure. To begin with it was a toy, an amusement; then it became a mistress, and then a master, and then a tyrant.”Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965) British prime minister

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