Over the years I’ve presented using most styles of microphone. On stage I’ve coped with a handheld heavyweight, a clip-on lapel mic and a headset that sat over my hair like a hairband. I’ve also spoken into a mic on radio, internet TV, on Zoom calls and most recently to record my audio book*. And […]
How to comfortably work with a microphone. Read More »
One of the major complaints I hear about Zoom meetings is that they can be quite confrontational. A bit like constantly attending a panel interview where you are eyeballing, and being eyeballed, by everyone in the room (including yourself)! However, the benefits of Zoom include things such as being able to see everyone at the
Where should you speak from in a meeting? Read More »
If you follow my articles, you’ll have heard me speaking about listening skills. The art of listening is key for good communication. However today I want to talk about what happens when the other person doesn’t appear to be listening to you! It can really throw your confidence and affect your ability to deliver your
How do you react if you aren’t being listened to? Read More »
I came across an interesting paper, while researching an upcoming presentation, called “Exploring Filler Words and Their Impact” by Emily Duvall, Aimee Robbins, Thomas Graham and Scott Divett. It’s a report looking at filler words, their impact on credibility of the speaker and comprehension of the listener. It’s a subject I have always found interesting.
How Umming and Erring in a speech can improve your believability. Read More »
There are a number of ways that you can diminish your authority online and two key ones are to have poor lighting and to get the camera angle wrong. If you don’t get these right then at best, your audience will be struggling to see you and at worst, looking straight up your nostrils …
2 quick wins to improve your online communication skills. Read More »
When I was little, I couldn’t pronounce my ‘R’’s so I would get “Weally, weally cwoss” and my father told me I would be OK so long as I didn’t marry a “Wobert”. I had elocution lessons (as they were called then) to help me change ‘Weally’ to ‘Really’ and ‘Wobert’ to ‘Robert’ … which
Don’t let your communication problems stop you from communicating. Read More »
I’m seeing a lot of talk at the moment about visibility. The team and I work with hundreds of people a year who need or want to be seen and heard at work and that means being visible. It means telling people what you know that they may find useful and being the person others
Is your plan for this year to be more visible? Read More »
Over lunch last week, my client and I spent much of the meal talking about how he wasn’t looking forward to having to let go of a number of his staff over the next few months. We agreed that he was lucky to have got so far in his career and not had to go
Are you about to deliver bad news to someone? Read More »
Last month Peter asked, with the increase of on-line meetings and reduction in visual cues, whether I thought the language we use has become more important? And my answer is I don’t think it’s any more important than when on the phone or talking while using a flipchart, (and having to keep turning away from
Is what we say more important now? Read More »
Last month I was interviewed by Ash Taylor of The Business Club House on all things ‘presentation’. We discussed fear, presentation skills and overcoming stage fright – all very pertinent whether you are speaking from stage or in-front of a camera. You can here the recording on Spotify here Talking about what you do is
Are you too frightened to speak up when asked? Read More »
