Business Presentation Skills Training, Speech Coach Training - Certification »

Adrienne McLean from Sydney, Australia is the first Certified Instructor in Australia. She is looking forward to expanding the program throughout the country. Adrienne’s story matches many of the individuals coming into the Certification Program. She has had a very successful position in the chemical manufacturing industry and was looking for a change. She was looking for a professional career which combines her passion for speaking with the luxury of being her own boss. The SpeakersTrainingCamp was just what she was looking for. I enjoyed spending some extra time with Adrienne – working with her during a Master Class before she headed back to Sydney. We had a great time working on her upcoming presentation on the SpeakersTrainingCamp for a networking group dinner meeting. She was very anxious to announce her new business to everyone. Even though Adrienne is halfway around the world, she will experience the continuing ongoing support from me. All of the Certified Trainers receive the same support. In fact, Adrienne emailed a mock-up of her business cards to me this morning. I sent a note back saying that something was missing: a business title: President, CEO, Head Butterfly-Tamer? Adrienne McLean – Presentation Skills Expert.

Leadership and Communication Tips »

What’s the best way to recover from a huge mistake? The most recent example is Kanye West grabbing the microphone from Taylor Swift at the Video Music Awards and blurting out that Beyonce’ really should have won the award. Kanye’s reputation instantly plummeted to negative numbers. What could he have done to redeem himself? What can you do the next time you make a really big mistake with a customer? This two-step guide will get you out of hot water every time. First apologize sincerely and immediately. Second, do something that will overwhelmingly delight the customer. For Kanye, he could have apologized immediately, and then later invited Taylor to join him on his next album. You need the “wow” factor. Go overboard. It will be well worth it!

Business Presentation Skills Training, Executive Training, Leadership and Communication Tips, Public Speaking Workshops, Uncategorized »

President Obama speaks to students on the first day of school

On the first day of school President Obama’s speech was televised to school children all over the country. Here is my analysis of his speech. As in all of my coaching, I strive for comments that are 50% positive and 50% constructive suggestions for change. I summarize with the top-two priorities:

Here’s what I liked:
1.Outstanding use of stories and examples to make his points: getting up at 4:30 am to work with his mom on school projects; missed having a father; Michelle Obama came from a simple family but went on to college. He gave 3 examples of students who surpassed the odds of poverty, brain cancer, and foster homes; and highlighted the struggles and successes of JK Rowling and Michael Jordan.
2. He related to the students: talked about feeling nervous and sad that summer is over. He mentioned the distractions of tv and the x-box.
3. The setting was appropriate: a high school in Virginia
4. He had great one-liners: “You cannot drop out of school and into a good job.” “The future of America depends on you.”"If you quit on school you quit on your country.” “Where you are doesn’t have to determine where you’ll end up.”"Let your failures teach you.”
5. I liked the “responsibility” theme.

Here are things I would change:

1. Shorten the speech to 10 minutes.
2. Create a stronger close using the “responsibility” theme.
3. Warm up the tone. It was too speechy, too campaign-like. The tone should be friendlier with more smiling, a softer voice sometimes, more caring and fatherly at times. It would have been more personable if he had come out from behind the lectern and walked around the stage a bit.
4. What one sentence do I remember from this speech? What will I remember forever? I don’t know…. he needed a single strong message: “Here’s what I want you to remember this year……..”
5. Use stronger organization with a 1-2-3 format. It would be easier for kids to remember.

The top 2 priorities for improvement: improve the organization centered around the theme, and warm up the tone.

Business Presentation Skills Training, Executive Training, Leadership and Communication Tips, Uncategorized »

Lucy, the English Bulldog, has trouble smiling

In the SpeakersTrainingCamp workshops you will often hear me coaching people to smile more. Audiences want their presenters to use a great deal of facial expression. I’ll often have someone who challenges me by asking, “Why should I smile? I’m not saying anything funny?” The reason for smiling is because when you smile you are conveying friendliness toward your audience and enthusiasm for your topic. The audience is reading your face for clues. I’ve noticed that people over 35 years of age often look like they are frowning when their faces are in a neutral position – the natural age lines create shadows on their faces which create a look of anger. It is even more critical that they smile. You can check out your level of friendliness by videotaping your next presentation or watching yourself in a mirror as you practice.

Business Presentation Skills Training, Executive Training, Public Speaking Workshops »

Everyone has at least two fantastic signature stories that will add great interest in his or her presentations.  Signature stories are usually personal – something from your life, and something that has a strong message behind it.  You want something memorable.  One of my favorite stories, “I Wanna Be a Philly,” answers my Dad’s question about what I want to be when I grow up.  To develop your own story, dig deep into your past, paint the pictures with words, and fill it with emotion, using gestures and the sound of your voice.  Notice that in this clip I use the voice of my Dad to make it more interesting.