2006 April | Your message and other things you say

Interactive Techniques

Since I’ll be giving a seminar on Interactive Techniques for Presentations at the District 37 Toastmasters’ Conference in a few weeks, interaction is on the brain. So I almost doubled over laughing while watching a webcast today in which the host (who managed to barely squeeze in an even dozen “ums” in his first minute [...]

Taxing gain

Today is Uncle Sam’s pay day in the U.S. The day when everyone is reminded that in order to get something good, we have to give a part of that good back for the common cause. Tax freedom day is not until April 26th, but I digress.

I see some presenters apparently in the habit of [...]

Make it short

Found myself with a dying cell phone battery, a lost mobile charger, and three phone calls to make the other day. Began each conversation with something along the lines of “I’ve got thirty seconds of battery left, tell me ____“. In another conversation, I was tied to a land line (and the caller knew it), [...]

Near miss

Was out flying today and was prepped and ready to take off at an uncontrolled airport. Called on the appropriate frequency to alert others of my presence and intentions. Right as I was about to take the runway, I made a final look up and was surprised to see a plane on short final about [...]

Hold the applause

I am frequently in audiences that feel the need to appreciate, acknowledge, or just get some energy out by clapping. I personally think we’re on an upswing in applause — which I pretty much dislike–but I accept it for what it is.

The problem is, most presenters don’t know how to handle it. And most forget [...]

Foreign tongue

David Ferrabee blogs today about the business world using English and the need to speak in the terms (language) of the customer. Makes a lot of sense. I’d extend it to more than just business. And more than just language. In fact, it’s a direct hit to Rule #1.

But focusing on the issue of language, [...]

There in the back

Had a chance to sit in the rear of a large crowd today. And it just underscored the need to have constant and deliberate eye contact no matter what the size of the audience. In this case, the presenter’s eyes rarely reached halfway back, and with the stage lighting, shadows made it seem as though [...]

Speed talking

As someone who talks like a firetruck late to the blaze, I appreciated Steve Crescenzo’s blog entry today (about speaking too fast, and communicating with folks of another tongue in general). I’ve gotten the same reviews from my international students many times. When I think I’m talking slow, I’m almost understandable to them.

But when translation [...]

Your message and other things you say