Do you ever get déjà vu when listening to a presentation? When that happens, it’s because you’re listening to a me-too speaker who never heard the advice of Sally Hogshead when she says, “Stand out or don’t bother.” The speaker is only regurgitating thoughts shared by others previously without adding any original substance or spin.…

Have you ever noticed how many people talk about the finale of a television series, but rarely give two hoots about the pilot episode? The Sopranos. Six Feet Under. Mad Men. People are still talking about these series finales even years after they aired. Just like on television, how you end your speech matters. Don’t…

Want to know how to make your audience hang on your every word? You must capture their attention immediately with a powerful introduction. And nope, telling them your name or what you did last night is not powerful. Thanks to the 30-second Head and Shoulders commercial from the 80’s, I know you never get a…

Since coaches can help with your fitness goals, your golf swing and your kid’s baseball team, doesn’t it make sense to hire a speech coach to help you achieve the next level of speaking success? Yes, of course, but before you let your fingers Google “speech coach,” you need to get clarity on few things…

Is vulnerability the silver bullet to speaking success? Not necessarily. A presentation infused with personal anecdotes can be powerful, but when you’re in the midst of a vulnerability hangover you’re just exposing yourself and giving your audience too much information, rather than leaving them changed. Every time you step on the stage, you must ask…