As crazy as it sounds, the average person ranks public speaking at the top of their list of biggest fears alongside their fear of death.  While the fear of public speaking might be shared among millions of people, the truth is that it adversely affects your ability to achieve your professional goals. How successful you…

We have all been in a situation where we had to sit through a presentation that was boring, confusing, and irrelevant.  You probably lost attention right away and took nothing away from it.  On the other hand, we have been to presentations that were dynamic, motivating, and inspiring.  You seem to cling to every word…

The use of visual aids is an important component in delivering a powerful presentation.  When the audience actually sees images of what is being presented it allows them to become more engaged and it increases their retention.  In addition to providing supplementary information, visual aids allow the audience to connect the topic to what it…

Much of your impact as a speaker depends on your body language.  These non-verbal movements can make or break your presentation.  Oftentimes presenters focus only on what they are going to say and forget about what they might be saying with their body language.  When you are presenting, strong, positive body language is an essential…

Whether you are giving a speech in a boardroom in front of a few coworkers or a presentation in front of a large crowd in an auditorium, it is vital that you connect with your audience.  You might have excellent information and be very knowledgeable about your topic but if you fail to connect with…

You have probably been there before…your stomach is in knots, your palms get sweaty, and you feel completely overwhelmed with nerves.  These might be some of the feelings you experience when you are asked to present in public.  Studies suggest that one of the most common fears shared among people is the fear of public…

As a speaker or presenter, always remember that your most powerful asset is your voice.  Delivering a presentation with a strong, confident, and sincere voice is very important and will have a huge impact on audience perception.  In fact, much of your credibility is based on your voice.  For this reason, speakers should pay close…

Think about the last time you were attending a presentation where the speaker went over their allotted time.  Chances are you were bored and maybe a little irritated that it put you behind schedule.  You may have even been tempted to get up and leave before the presentation was over.  The fact is timing is…

Asking questions is an essential part of any presentation.  Good questions keep the audience engaged, stimulate them intellectually, and create a more exciting atmosphere. Questions can also be beneficial for the presenter because they show what information the audience has retained and it helps them clarify any confusion. That said, asking questions is an art. …

Whether you are attending a keynote speech with hundreds of people or a sales meeting with only a dozen, we have all witnessed a speaker who keeps the audience hanging on every word as well as the speaker who has the audience watching the clock to see when it will end.  Some people have the…