Authentic Speaking is sincere communication spoken with generosity and purpose, animating the speaker into an alignment of words, vocal tone, and body language. How Do We Read Insincerity? Max is the kind of speaker we know well; we’ve sat through hundreds of presentations like his....

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When was the last time someone truly listened to you? The kind of listening that creates a force field around the two of you? My friend Charlene listens to me like that, and I leave our coffee dates feeling energized with new insights. She says...

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Trust is the one thing that changes everything....

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It takes courage, commitment, and character....

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Storytelling is the interactive art of using words, body language, or tone of voice to reveal the elements and images of a story. Storytelling connects the speaker and the audience. If you’re listening to NPR, stories come to you by the spoken word and tone...

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A few months ago, an executive named Lisa shared some bad advice she received. She said, “I’ve been told I gesture too much, but it’s hard for me to keep my hands idle.” Hear this. If you talk with your hands — it’s a good...

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My neighbor Matt practices a rare and powerful social habit. When he sees you, he immediately stops what he’s doing, directs his full attention, and makes eye contact with you. He is 100% committed. Acknowledging another person by genuinely seeing them is an authentic human...

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In every conversation or presentation, you have an opportunity to be your best, authentic self and say something real. But too often, we just say the same things we said yesterday. We make sweeping generalizations, and we use worn-out words. If you want to build...

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Recently I spoke to a group of women in leadership in the UK on the Impostor Mindset. Every other head in the audience of 200 women was nodding. The Impostor Mindset — also known as Impostor Syndrome — is a condition that is so widespread...

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An email from a client hit my inbox last week, and the subject line caught my eye: “New General Manager Named.” “What happened to Chris?” I thought. A similar email went out two years ago naming him to that post. Chris is now a statistic....

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Most panels, in-person or virtual, are not done very well. A panel should be a stimulating conversation between individuals who bring passion and different insights on the topic. The audience can become engaged and join the conversation. Unfortunately, that scenario doesn’t happen often enough. Instead,...

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When I received the invitation to give a TED Talk a few years ago, I was already an experienced speaker and coach, but I didn’t know that a journey of fellowship and organic practice lay ahead. First, there was a fellowship among the diverse group...

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So, let’s talk about, you know, those uh filler words. We call them “non-words,” right? They make you sound, like, unprofessional and less sure of yourself. These seven filler words are the most common. There is no doubt you’ve noticed them finding their way into...

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Let’s start by establishing what Q&A (Questions & Answers) is and is not. Q&A is not: the traditional tail-end of your talk. a meaningless question like, “Any questions? Okay. That’s all I have!” the opportunity you avoid because you’re afraid someone will ask you something...

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You can research a million papers, articles, and books on Presence. In our experience, there are five essential elements that make up the foundation of Presence. 1.) Body Language People interpret poor posture and restless movement as a lack of confidence. Good posture gives you...

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You’re sitting in the audience in anticipation of a great talk. The conference speaker is a renowned food expert and the author of a new book. The emcee introduces her, and she walks to the front of the room as people clap. Then comes the...

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Rob is a productivity consultant. He teaches leaders to manage their workflow, work smarter, and accomplish more. Since saving time is something people care about, he has been successful. Earlier this year, I watched from the back of the room as Rob began his presentation...

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For a long time, we dismissed storytelling as inappropriate fluff. We followed Aristotle’s (384-322 BC) belief that people were essentially rational and made decisions based on persuasive procedure and reasonable argument. But in the 1980s, Walter Fisher (1931-2018) introduced the idea that we experience life...

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“I don’t talk about myself in presentations,” Katherine said. “I’d rather stick to the numbers.” I had just asked Katherine to consider sharing a bit of her story in her presentation so her teammates could get to know her and trust her. Katherine felt her...

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Why Learn Public Speaking? I smile when someone says, “I don’t need public speaking in my job.” Getting on your feet and speaking to a group of people is a practice in human expression that goes back more than 2500 years. It’s in our DNA,...

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Researchers believe that the oldest spoken language is Mayan, which was around seven thousand years ago when the Maya migrated into Mexico. Imagine… over 7,000 years, we’ve progressed all the way to: “I was like, really?” There is an infinite number of people who, down...

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Why do so many leaders stop working on themselves? Most likely, it’s because, at some point in life, we think we know a little more than we do. A few years back, I worked with a talented manager named Richard, who could tell you what...

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At any age, we are shaped by our inner circles. Consider this the next time you find yourself spending time with people who are unhappy, negative, dramatic, and not inclined to encourage you—much less dare you to be better. By “better,” I’m not just referring...

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Every day I talk with executives in leadership positions about their challenges. Over the years, many things have changed, but speaking up in meetings is still an obstacle for many people. Again and again, I’ve heard these kinds of comments: I’m constantly interrupted. People talk...

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A few years ago, virtual meetings were an exciting new way to engage with your team from anywhere. We can now connect, communicate, and collaborate with team members across the globe … but the novelty is starting to wear off. Have you noticed that your...

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Before her appearance at the inauguration of President Joe Biden, I had not heard the name Amanda Gorman. But when she stepped up to the microphone in that amazing yellow coat and recited her poem “The Hill We Climb,” I was certain the entire world...

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The news that Colin Powell had died at the age of 84 spread quickly on October 18, 2021. The headline popped up on my phone from one of my news apps. I felt my heart drop. Many of the headlines that day included the word...

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If you met her, you knew that her love of humanity was too big for a couple of states. People across the globe are grieving the loss of beloved physician, minister, and humanitarian Dr. Ophelia Garmon-Brown. She passed away in November of 2021 after battling...

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As the founder and executive director of the small but mighty business newsletter called The Charlotte Ledger, Tony Mecia is doing smart journalism and fact-based local news for the city he loves. If you think that sounds like a throwback, you’re only half right. “A...

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1.) Give everyone some space. You don’t have to be together every minute. Do something on your own for a couple of hours. 2.) It’s okay to say no to some invitations, projects, outings, or extravaganzas. 3.) Tell stories and reminisce about the funniest holiday...

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