Speaking tips blog
Communication matters. What are you saying?
NEVER mention TIME when giving a presentation
The one thing a speaker should never mention A speaker should never mention TIME when giving a presentation. I was coaching a group presentation the other day and (predictably) one of the presenters ran over their allotted time. While we know a presenter should NEVER...
Mentorship: Three Necessary Elements
Much of what I find myself doing as a speech coach is falling more into the mentorship category than the instructing category. I recently got an idea from a client. He had called to discuss hiring me to speak to his staff, something I’ve done several times for his...
Don’t Remember a Speaker for the Wrong Reasons
For an audience to remember a speaker for the wrong reasons is a failure on the speaker's part. It can go one of two ways. One great; one… not-so-great. It begins with someone who appears to be a total stranger approaching you and opening conversation with, “I saw you...
Lessons Learned from 10 years as a Public Speaking Trainer
We just passed a milestone anniversary here at MillsWyck Communications. It was just over ten years ago that I said goodbye to my corporate job at (what was then) America’s Best Place to Work and the steady paycheck to become a public speaking trainer. I was...
Questions speakers should ask BEFORE they speak
Questions speakers need to ask to ensure their success There are many questions speakers should ask their event organizer or meeting planner before they speak. It’s a regular call I make: a final check with a client about my upcoming program. I always ask what the...
Three lessons we can learn about speaking from a hacked website
Speech hackers can usually be addressed with the appropriate amount of preparation, but our website was hacked. Again. It was the fourth major attack since January. Each time it rendered the website an alarming (literally) mess of malware and phishing links. It...
How to Express Passion in Public Speaking
Sound Like You Feel Expressing passion in public speaking is critical in all aspects of our daily communication. When it comes to selling – your product, your ideas, your goals – we often fail to convince others of the passion and commitment we feel inside. Since...
How to Start a Speech with a Story
How to Start a Speech with a Story The question of how to start a speech seems simple and there are several ways to open your presentation. Using a story is a great way to start a speech. I just attended the fabulous KEY5 Conference in Charlotte, NC. The concept is...
Turning Fifty: My One Word for the Year
Turning Fifty may be the new Forty, but 2018 is here whether you like it or not! It’s a new year and I'm turning fifty! I love the fresh start of turning the calendar and contemplating what will be different in the next 365 days. In recent years, I adopted the...
Pomp and Circumstance
I went to my first graduation in years yesterday (I don't consider a kindergarten or elementary school graduation a real event worthy of such a title -- there needs to be a diploma involved). I was there to support a speaker and discovered that there were lots of...
The Role of Attitude in Speaking
Attitude is the single greatest factor in whether you can become truly great at any endeavor. One of the negative aspects of my job is that I rarely get to see (live, anyway) the product of my efforts. If I train or coach a client, they are likely presenting at a...
7 Speaking Tips for Handling Presentation Mistakes
Handling Presentation Mistakes Handling presentation mistakes can be difficult, even for professional speakers, if you're not prepared. My friend Karin (pronounced CARR-in) Wiberg recently blogged about lessons learned from speakers. Calling Karin a friend seems to be...
