What Clothes Are You Wearing?
Last week, I had the singular pleasure of watching a keynote speaker I had coached absolutely nail the speech she was giving. She was wearing a fabulous fuchsia suit, which she loved and wore brilliantly. Her speaking style was clear, appealing, funny, and enthusiastic. Her clothes and her speaking style were uniquely her. Different occasions …
That One Habit That Gets in Your Way
I was thinking recently about a time I was directing a play, and one of the actors was very hard to hear. The role was a curt, brusque military man—a person who makes his presence felt wherever he goes. Clearly, a person like that needs to be heard! For several days, I mentioned in rehearsal …
Good Gestures…and the Other Kind
Ignite CSP senior coach Vivian Smith shares a few tips about what to do with your hands–
Your Voice Gives You Away
Clients often ask us why we don’t want them to memorize a presentation. “Isn’t that the best way to make sure I remember everything?” Aside from the fact that remembering every word you planned isn’t the most important aspect of your presentation, the problem with memorizing is that your voice doesn’t sound the same as …
When It Matters to Show Your Work
When is it important to show your work? I’m watching the 2022 CrossFit Games as I write this. This is a massive, multi-day athletic competition that tests athletes’ skill, strength, and endurance over five days. It culminates in crowning one male and one female winner. Each athlete has a judge who is in lockstep with …
The Pitfalls of Feeling Comfortable
I’ve been reading and working through a revolutionary book. It’s not Karl Marx or Brene Brown or the latest by Yuval Noah Harari. It’s “Become a Supple Leopard,” by Dr. Kelly Starrett. Starrett is a physical therapist and trainer, and he started out as an athlete himself, paddling for the US canoeing and kayaking teams. …
Put Something on the Walls
A client of mine, a recently appointed CEO, hasn’t totally moved into his office. He’s very busy, of course, and office decor isn’t at the top of his list of priorities, understandably. I can tell that he hasn’t totally moved into his office because the part of it that I can see during our video …
When You Know How It’s Done (or, How to Give Me Directions)
Have you ever asked someone for directions to a location they know well, and it goes like this: “Well, once you get on the highway and you go about five minutes, you’ll see an exit to…” I don’t know about you, but for me, these directions start way too late. I need to know how …
Bad Advice.
People give a ton of bad public speaking advice. I’m sure it’s well-intentioned, but it’s counter-productive. Here is some of my favorite bad advice: Practice in a mirror Clasp your hands behind your back When you walk around it keeps the audience interested Look over their heads if you’re too nervous to make eye contact Be confident/Don’t …
That Chip on Your Shoulder Looks Delicious!
Why intention matters, part 7001— Because we can see it, read it in your body and hear it in your voice. You tell us exactly what is really going on with you, and boy is it fascinating! I was coaching a woman recently who had been asked to give a presentation about a new project …
