Speak With Confidence
Lead With Purpose
People are going to change as a result of this time in our lives. You may even need to change your business model. Right now, it’s a new day – Every day. Change is happening so quickly. Business and life as we know it has changed since just a week ago. In times of what we call the FUD Factor – Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt, the companies that communicated and demonstrated that they care about
Are cell phones hurting the next generation?
A recent article on CNN was about government-run camps to treat teen internet addiction in South Korea. After reading the article, I thought what a fantastic idea. I wonder how many parents think their kids are addicted to their cell phones. The South Koreans may be on to something. According to South Korea’s government, in 2018, 98% of South Korean teens used a cell phone. The article mentioned a 16-year who, after spending 13 hours
Are some organizations shirking their responsibilities regarding public speaking coaching and professional development opportunities?
As a speech coach, I readily admit that it is hard for me to remain unbiased about the question above. ALL of us, speech coaches included, should be on a never-ending quest to improve our public speaking, presentation skills, and ability to connect with listeners virtually and in person. That is a utopian view, I know. Based in our Kerala, India office, I do see a disturbing trend about the support and development of speakers
Three Tips for Using a Teleprompter in a Business Presentation
As more and more events become hybrid or completely virtual, the ability to use a teleprompter with ease will enhance the quality of your presentation. Of course, the opposite is also true; fumbling with your script on a screen can make you look panicked, low energy, and under-prepared. Being a great presenter means you have developed mastery with all the tools at your disposal. When used well, you may utilize a teleprompter at your next
Become a Better Speaker in 30 Minutes
I want to share some advice based on my experience coaching over 200 conference speakers, moderators, and panelists to prepare for their upcoming presentations. Some of the conference speakers I’ve helped just took an initial, free consultation, which is great, others wanted additional, in-depth help for a particularly important event. Some have become valued clients and friends. Regardless of seniority (C-level executives, managers, or individual contributors) or industry such as financial services, fintech, healthcare, biotech,
THE BASIS OF BIAS AND ATTITUDES
Until the community of police and the communities of color are willing and able to get to the bottom of the biases and attitudes that control behavior, any change will be prolonged and painful. Each person in these communities and others must understand that their behaviors, whether verbal or physical, come from a place in each of us, filled with the attitudes and beliefs that we carry everywhere we go. There are no human exceptions
The Rudest Things You Can Do During A Work Zoom Meeting
I don’t consider myself a rude person, and I make great efforts at being polite, self-aware, and apolitical at work. But after reading this article, “The Rudest Things You Can Do During a Work Zoom Meeting,” you may realize, like I did, you’re a bit of a boor online. Fortunately I work with a bunch of great speech coaches here at The Speech Improvement Company, so there’s hope! Now that I’m enlightened, I’m reaching out
The Real Reason Remote Workers Are More Productive
I read an interesting and informative blog post that’s generated a lot of discussions at The Speech Improvement Company. “Asynchronous Communication: The Real Reason Remote Workers Are More Productive,” appears on the website of Doist, an up-and-coming maker of software-based productivity tools. The article delves into the productivity of remote workers and how different modes of communication affect it. It includes the following definitions: Author Dennis Becker View all posts
Visuals in the Virtual World – A Quick Tip
Using visuals during presentations is helpful for listeners to connect with your message. They are used to emphasize and clarify speaking points. Has this changed in the virtual world? The short answer is NO. Presenters need to be cautious of having their listeners disconnect from them and their message due to visuals. Whether you are in person or virtual, disconnecting happens. Still, presenters compete for their listeners’ attention with so many more distractions in a