Help for Speakers

Back from hiatus....

2012-01-18T20:33:00.000+13:00

After the first earthquake in Christchurch in September 2011 I put my speaking and coaching business aside for a while. After the big earthquake in February 2012 I put it in to hibernation as I moved to Wellington pursued other work, and adjusted to the changes the Earthquake has wrought. We're almost a year on from the big quake now, and I seems that my creative energy is coming back so I'm

Reading a speech and the relationship between a speaker and an audience

2012-01-18T19:18:00.000+13:00

Seth Godin thinks that "It's extremely difficult to read a speech and sound as if you mean it." He's got me thinking: Focussing attention on a script can mean that you lose the vital connection with the audience. Does this mean you should never use notes? No! Sometimes having a few notes in outline frees you to connect with the audience, rather than putting your energy into worrying

Types of Presentations: the "good enough" or "compliance" presentation.

2011-08-14T22:14:00.012+12:00

There are many different types of presentations. Sometimes, "good enough" is good enough. Sometimes all you want to do is to comply with accepted norms, read your presentation of the PowerPoint slides, look like you've prepared, sound like you know what you're talking about and not be humiliated. If you're part of a big organisation, corporate communications may supply you with a Master

Magic Whiteboard - new stationery product!

2011-08-14T21:02:00.001+12:00

I love good stationery products - and this new invention will really fill a niche for speakers and others who use temporary conference venues. The Magic Whiteboard and Magic Blackboard come in a tear off roll, and can be put up in all sorts of rooms. Much easier to carry than flipcharts. I really hope that it "does what it says on the tin". Anyone used it yet?

Another earthquake post

2011-02-22T22:17:00.000+13:00

@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } It’s actually worse in some ways being away from home when an earthquake strikes. I didn’t immediately know about the earthquake until around 2pm. 6.3 didn't sound so bad. I'd come through 7.1. And

The Christchurch Earthquake part 1

2010-09-04T14:54:00.000+12:00

We've just got power back - have had phone most of the time, so here's what's happened in Christchurch Central in the last 10 hours. At about 445 am I was jolted awake, and instantly knew what was happening. It was noisy, and my first instinct was to throw the covers over my head in case the glass lamp in the ceiling broke. My next instinct was to head for the door frame. I slipped on

Make difficult meetings easier: offer a biscuit.

2010-08-18T18:35:00.000+12:00

If you have a difficult meeting - arrange for biscuits. A wise colleague back in my corporate lawyer days told me this, and he'd got it from an experienced barrister. I've seen it work in surprising circumstances. It's nothing earth-shattering, but when you have a difficult meeting, biscuits can make a difference. Why does it work? At the very least, having biscuits in a meeting can combat

Keeping presentations simple

2010-08-15T22:14:00.000+12:00

The psychotactics blog is always excellent. How To Make A 'One-Wave' Presentation - http://twurl.nl/bgsidx Great advice from #Psychotactics

What is the purpose of a keynote?

2010-07-25T13:08:00.000+12:00

Marcia Reynold's post about her experience at the recent NSA Convention in Orlando sparked a few thoughts for me. Marcia shared her feelings as an audience member (and expert speaker and coach to speakers) and asked keynotes to give something better than their best advice, and to ask powerful questions that gave the audience a chance to think for itself. It's a great article, and I'd encourage

The only legal(related) advice I'll ever give...

2010-07-23T22:06:00.006+12:00

I used to be a lawyer. I spent 11 years analysing statutes, and writing reports, and some of the time I loved it, but I don't wish myself back. In effect I "retired" at age 35. I escaped a thinking style that I'd outgrown, and which wasn't comfortable for me any more. Studies have shown that pessimism is a useful trait in lawyers, but it doesn't make for a happy life. I'd rather focus on

A little bit daring...

2010-07-15T22:04:00.000+12:00

Often we are put off by taking steps because we think we need a lot of courage, and to be very brave, if we are to achieve great things.   Sir Edmund Hillary didn't start by climbing Everest and he didn't as a young man consider himself brave or exceptional, as is clear from the foreword to his autobiography "Nothing Venture, Nothing Win". If you haven't read it, I recommend it. As he

If Winston Churchill had used Powerpoint

2010-04-30T00:03:00.000+12:00

Confessions of A Community College Dean, offered this gem this week: Imagine if Winston Churchill used Powerpoint: Where We Will Fight Them: - beaches - hills - trenches It loses something. Dean Dad at Confessions of A Community College Dean, is inviting readers his "wise and wonderful readers" to contribute their PowerPoint dislikes this week I stand by my advice in my second ever Tip

Four questions to ask when you're preparing a speech.

2010-04-26T15:28:00.001+12:00

The best, most beautifully crafted speech in the world won’t be memorable if it is delivered without passion. Believe in what you are saying, seek to connect with and serve your audience, and they will remember the emotional impact you make on them. Passion comes from within, not without. It comes from caring about what you are saying and who you are saying it to. Note: Passion and

These are my riches

2010-03-14T21:27:00.005+13:00

"I think some people are really brave. Some people are cowards. Most of us sort of fit somewhere in between and I guess I just think of myself like that." Margaret MothMargaret Moth was New Zealand's first female camera operator, and went on to work for CNN. It was while on assignment in Sarajevo that she was shot in the jaw, seriously injured, but went on to recover and return.I remember

More isn't always better: Lessons from Juggling

2010-02-10T13:41:00.001+13:00

I've just spent four days at the New Zealand Juggling Festival in Levin, a great chance to catch up with friends, and practice my skills.While I was there a young boy from Levin, who was seeing the madness that is the juggling and circus community asked me "How many can you do?"It's a common question. Many non-jugglers assume that more is better and the goal of juggling is to juggle as many

Speaking tips from Santa

2009-12-22T16:41:00.002+13:00

It's Christmas time, so, in a light-hearted vein, here are some lessons we can learn about speaking, especially professional speaking, from all those hard-working Santas out there:If in doubt adopt a friendly smile and jovial demeanour.Santas always start by asking children what they want for Christmas. You too can ask questions of your audience - and then you can tailor your response to them.

Where does it come from within you?

2009-10-30T19:35:00.004+13:00

" But where does it come from within you? What questions does it ask, that come from within you, that you are trying to explore? "(Paul Haggis, speaking of questions asked of him by Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz)I enjoy the Creative Screenwriting Podcast, where Jeff Goldsmith records the interviews and public Q and A sessions that he does with Screenwriters after the showing of the movie that

The Lorax was a failure

2009-10-01T23:25:00.003+13:00

Why the Lorax was wrongThe children's book the Lorax has always been a favourite of mine. I read it over and over to my young sister, so much so that I could (and still can, by and large) recite the book from memory.The story is an allegory, a story about an industrialist who cuts down all the Truffula trees, pollutes the environment leaving it bleak and desolate.What is the moral of the story?

Leadership and Self Deception Workshop in Christchurch

2009-09-01T15:08:00.004+12:00

"We cannot hold a torch to light another's path without brightening our own." - Ben Sweetland John Cosgrove of the Arbinger Institute will be in Christchurch running an introductory workshop on Leadership and Self Deception on 1 October. It's priced at $50, but you can attend for free. It's at the International Antarctic Centre, Sir Edmund Hillary Room from 2.30-4.30pm. The focus of the

Wellington Chapter of NSANZ is coming - October 20th event

2009-08-31T13:00:00.003+12:00

The first event for the National Speakers Association Wellington sub-branch is on 20 October 2009.Check it out here:http://rockyourspeakingbusiness.eventbrite.com

Pigs flying in bank

2009-08-27T21:39:00.000+12:00

I was in the BNZ Central Christchurch branch today (waiting a bit for the computer to unfreeze so I could put the pin on my credit card) and looked around.I was trying to put my finger on what wasn't quite working. You had to wait for the tellers in an avenue of shiny brochures - lots of marketing paraphernalia with pretty cartoon pigs, and the new comic sans-ish logo. Then there was the old

Wordle view of the benefits of joining NSANZ

2009-08-24T11:40:00.004+12:00

And here's the World version of the Benefits of joining NSANZ

Why I am a member of NSANZ

2009-08-24T11:20:00.002+12:00

I'm currently working on re-writing the NSANZ website. As part of that I've reviewed a survey and made a tag-cloud of all the words that are most commonly used when NSANZ members were asked what they liked about NSANZ.Here is the TagCrowd version. I'll also try WordCloud too.(I wonder how long so many great free software tools will be around?)