Blog
The Power of Subtraction in Public Speaking
There was a great piece in the Washington Post titled, “We instinctively add on new features and fixes. Why don’t we subtract instead?” Here is helpful summary from the article of the research conducted by the authors: “[W]hen asked to change or...
Craft better presentations in less time with our Sandwich Structure Method
Whether presenting virtually or in person, more and more professionals want to emulate a TED Talk-style in their briefings, research reports, recommendations, pitches, training modules, conference presentations, board meetings, and updates at...
Avoid “death by PowerPoint” by following these four principles of effective visual aids
One of the biggest mistakes professionals make when preparing a presentation is to begin by opening up Microsoft PowerPoint, its Apple-product cousin Keynote, Google Slides, or another presentation software. These programs are not suited for crafting content. When...
How to convey confidence in a virtual meeting or presentation
At Spoken with Authority, we believe that you are constantly presenting at work, whether you are speaking in a conversation at the water cooler, on a phone call, in a meeting, or at a lectern at a conference or gala. And you can convey confidence in any of these...
Provide more value in and lead productive virtual meetings
You log into a virtual meeting and you are one of many squares in the gallery of participants.You easily could turn off your camera and try to avoid being called on. Or, you could prepare afew minutes ahead of time and come ready to add value to every virtual meeting...
Six ways to exaggerate during your next formal speech
Earlier this month, my husband had the honor of officiating the wedding of one of his closest friends. And in the weeks before the wedding, I had the honor of advising my husband on the content and the delivery of his ceremony. (Good news: we’re...
Do you know the elements of a successful speech introduction?
All too often, speakers open a presentation by stating their name or speech topic. While these are useful elements in a speech introduction, they shouldn’t come first. In this video clip, Spoken with Authority workshop facilitator Dr. Jean Miller describes...
It’s OK to cry when you’re giving a speech
Watching Hillary Clinton’s concession speech on Wednesday reminded me of something I’ve said to many of my clients, “The best speeches are the hardest to give.” At times, the Democratic presidential nominee was teary eyed as she gave a powerful speech that was...
What makes an authentic speaker?
Authenticity. It’s something that speakers strive for, but it’s not an easy concept to define. So then, what does an authentic speaker look like? And, what doesn’t authenticity look like? Authenticity is: Vulnerable Authentic speakers open up. They tackle difficult...
How to give a speech with no notes
In his 2014 book, Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds, Carmine Gallo declared, “You may never be invited to speak at TED, but if you want to succeed in business you’d better be able to deliver a TED-worthy presentation. TED...