The number one way to connect with your audience has less to do with eye contact, making them laugh (though this is helpful), or how energetic you are, and has a lot more to do with feelings. True connection is developed when the audience feels you are adding value to their lives.
Read MoreOne day the Sun and Wind got into an argument over who was stronger. The Wind spotted a man walking down the road, wearing a jacket. They decided that whoever could get the jacket off the man must surely be the strongest.
Read MoreA few years ago I was teaching writing at a small art and design college in Albuquerque, New Mexico. While I occasionally got to teach a creative writing class, the bulk of my time was spent teaching essay composition. Somewhere between constantly detailing how to develop a strong thesis, endless lessons on how not to plagiarize, and parroting basic essay structure ad nauseum, I could weave in a bit of creativity. Eventually I found myself craving some outlet for my own writing beyond my professional life, but whatever that was I couldn’t seem to feel inspired enough pursue it.
Read MoreOne of the most respected speakers and coaches I've ever worked with it put it like this: "Music is what happens in the space between the notes." As in, without the pause it's just white noise, not harmony. Presenting is the same way.
Read MoreIn 1995 I took my very first speech class (in high school), because I needed an elective. The truth is, I was dreading it! I’m a hardcore introvert and my preferred natural state is at home and not talking to anyone, much less an audience. But that class changed my life forever, and it showed me public speaking isn’t just something introverts can learn to do
Read MoreI was recently speaking to a friend who has had to give various types of speeches throughout the past year, to various audience sizes, and he was stumped about how to maintain eye-contact with the audience in a meaningful, effective manner. He was especially curious about an old tip he learned (which involves choosing one or two people in the audience to focus on throughout the speech), but he was having trouble implementing it in a natural way.
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