Speaking tips blog
Communication matters. What are you saying?
Apology excepted
Seth Godin brought to our attention the issue of people apologizing before their talks. I'll rate this a TTPP (Top Ten Pet Peeve), and generalize further. It's not just about egregious time overshoots, but any element that requires the perceived need to apologize:...
New bank looming
I find online that I have a service fee from my bank:Clicking 'more info' I find out that there was only one fee and the total is correct:How comforting. This will be the sixth time this year and second month in a row I've had to go in to discuss "service fees" with...
We’re sorry, no fries
Keeping with our Sunday night tradition, we went through the drive-through of a well-known fast food restaurant that shall remain nameless, but it's image is led by a red-haired girl named Wendy. We order the same thing every week. We're fairly habitual about...
Just ask me how humble I am
In my speaking, often I'm asked to share the stage with experts or others who complement the program. I have such an occasion in my current round of safety seminars. I've worked with several 'experts' who have been given instructions from the one contracting our...
Look! Up in the sky!
Giving an aviation safety seminar at the airport in Blacksburg, VA tonight. Beautiful town and airport, and a packed house of locals in the house. Big game coming on Thursday, so there were some special activities in and around the town and airport. Before the...
Opportunity lost
Was privy to attend a product "party demo" (for lack of a formal event name) where the powers that be catered some grub to show the development crowd how their hard work had paid off. To show them just how great things were, they planned a product demo by the execs...
Are you with me?
Bonus today -- two tips for the price of one!Heard a speaker do multiple sessions this weekend. That is a tough nut no matter how you crack it. Keeping people engaged is hard, and even harder across breaks and days (welcome to the life of a trainer!).This particular...
Say what?
Ran across one of those posts today that leaves you scratching your head. In addition to being in all caps106, it had at least two word phrases that left me completely bewildered.One was: "I HAVE GOT TO FIND THIS CAT A BETTER HOME! HE REALLY NEEDS TO BE AN INSIDE CAT...
Why are you lying to me?
Traveling a few weeks back and found a number of customer service stories from the line of work that seems absolutely determined to provide bad service -- the airlines.After missing one flight (due to no fault of my own -- in fact, I ran through the airport and...
What’s the point?
It's often amazing to me how much is said and how little is communicated. Many people seem intent on making sure they are heard -- not that their message is heard.It's Toastmasters contest season again, and due to another obligation I was unable to attend or...
Where you headed?
This is a slightly different sort of post -- a travel tip. I'm back on the road after a nice bit of home-bound hiatus. I'm traveling with a new toy -- a GPS. I've used GPS in aviation for years, had one of the first general handheld positioning units (anybody want to...
At least act interested
Many moons ago we discussed why individual introductions in a group setting don't work. I still stand by that. But I watched a proper way to handle them when they are done the other day. Ms. Big Wig could have sat by and said, "Uh, huh. I see. Nice. Whatever." ...
