Speak With Confidence
Presenting Technical Information to Non-Technical People
Technically-inclined professionals typically deliver technical presentations. We hear it repeatedly from the executives we coach: they face challenges in conveying technical information to laypeople or others who lack the same scientific background. They often face significant communication gaps when presenting to individuals outside their expertise and the listeners are left feeling overwhelmed or “lost in the weeds.”
How to Choose a Speech Coach
When you are charged with finding and selecting a vendor to help you or your employees strengthen their communication skills, you are taking on a crucial task. Whether it’s helping a colleague prepare for a major presentation, learning to navigate difficult conversations yourself, or developing an organization’s leadership team, you need to closely match the learning needs to the training skills.
Bridging the Gap: Three Tips for Explaining Technical Jargon to Engaged Listeners
‘Technical’ can have different meanings depending on the context. Every organization develops its own specialized jargon, which becomes “technical” when it falls outside another company’s norms. While it may be second nature to you, it can create barriers when communicating with non-technical listeners. However, with the right approach, these challenges become opportunities for connection and collaboration. Here are three tips to help you translate complex information into something everyone can understand: Simplify Your Language: Avoid
Speaking Faster or Slower: Is One Better Than the Other?
The short answer? Yes—one is better than the other. But the key lies in knowing when and why. In most business settings, presentations are typically delivered at a pace of 185 to 200 words per minute. Meanwhile, the average human brain can process information at a much faster rate—about 400 to 600 words per minute. Now, we’re not suggesting you try to speak at 500 words per minute just to keep your listeners’ brains busy.
Unlocking the Power of Conferences: Turning Chaos into Opportunity
Conferences can be transformative experiences—places where new partnerships are forged, ideas take flight, and energy is reinvigorated. Yet, all too often, they devolve into chaotic whirlwinds of missed opportunities and scattered schedules. Ironically, the best moments often happen in the quiet corners: hallway conversations or impromptu meetups in empty banquet rooms after the main events. What if those “best parts” could become the focus instead of the afterthought? When approached as collaborative team-building opportunities rather
Paraphrasing: A Crucial Skill for Building Trust and Rapport
In the vast landscape of communication, the ability to paraphrase stands out as a valuable skill that often goes unnoticed. Paraphrasing involves rephrasing someone else’s words or ideas in your own words, and its importance in conversation cannot be overstated. This nuanced skill plays a pivotal role in fostering understanding, enhancing relationships, and promoting effective communication. One of the primary benefits of paraphrasing lies in its ability to ensure clarity. When conversing, it’s not uncommon
Speaking Successfully at a Conference Fireside Chat
A fireside chat in business is an informal yet structured conversation between a moderator and a guest speaker (or panel) at a conference, event, or corporate gathering. Unlike traditional keynote speeches or panel discussions, fireside chats are engaging, relaxed, and interactive—almost like an intimate conversation around a fireplace, which is where the term originates. Of course, speaking in this format may not always feel comfortable. Nerves can creep in between the lavalier mic, a tight
What Does Your Handshake Say About You?
A handshake is one of the first things a client or colleague notices about you, shaping their perception of your strength, confidence, and ability to connect. Regardless of age or seniority, a well-executed handshake sets the right tone for any professional interaction. As a communication coach, I work with clients to ensure their handshakes convey confidence, approachability, and credibility. The Power of a Handshake Dating back to ancient Greece, the handshake has long symbolized trust
Have the Listeners in Mind!
I speak with hundreds of conference speakers a year. In fact, I love doing it because it is great to learn what is being discussed around the world in a variety of industries, and it obviously helps those speaking to say what they say more effectively. One thing that I constantly hear is how do I make sure that I am keeping people’s attention? This is a great question, however the nervousness behind it is