We’ve talked for a few times about ‘elevator pitches’, and as so often happens, we like the idea of having an interesting, short, enticing pitch for all seasons but we don’t ever get round to creating one. I’m not a great fan of the ‘elevator’ because I think even 30-45 seconds is too long when…
Even if it’s a cute pig, it’s still a pig. Isn’t it? So let’s cut the crap about Prezi – Which I like and have reviewed here– saving the world from PowerPoint, and realise that drafting a decent speech with no pictures and delivering it competently, will be much better received than a poor…
At a fundraiser for the Globe Theatre in London last night. Listening to playwright Howard Brenton talk about ‘Anne Boleyn’, and its successful run at the Globe in 2011. He was very interesting on creating a story and reminded us of an Oscar Wilde quote- ‘Playwrights tell lies to make a general truth…’ A brilliant…
It should be brilliant, but it’s not. It’s BA’s new brand message in wide-screen, film-shot format. British Airways relaunches itself with new slogan that nods to its imperial origins | Mail Online. It’s expensively made, lavishly appointed and brilliantly placed for the TV viewers it wants to lure back to the arms of the self-appointed ‘Flag…
I’m a speaker, speech writer and speaking coach. I work with very capable people, helping them to show their brilliance to the rest of the world. Charisma is a subject that often comes up in discussion. It’s something that many of my clients would give their right arms to ‘be’. But most of them worry…
Here’s how to make a great point with metaphor and a blackboard. Viktor Frankl keeps an audience spellbound and makes a point that is still valid today. One of my heroes, proving that if you’ve got a relevant message, then the technology and the visuals ad a little emphasis and no more. But if you ‘aint got a message it doesn’t much…
As a travelling speaker, you don’t ask for much really, just the right directions, a decent hotel, a fee, and then a chance when you get to the venue. Part of giving you a chance is that the host introduces you properly, politely and professionally to the crowd. I mostly give the introducer and few short written lines in the preparatory exchanges when all the arrangements are made, but it doesn’t always work.
I once bought a book by Edward de Bono, called ‘How to be Interesting’. It wasn’t. But it’s a great title isn’t it? Why might someone as fascinating as me buy a book like that? Well, it’s simple, I was seeking an answer to all of the questions I’d been asked around ‘how do you…
As an addition to the article I wrote for MMC and ‘The Vine’, here’s 10 things you can practice to help you develop flexibility and social skill… For the original article see here. In your head- Assume every person you meet is important, and treat him or her as such. Remember that angry and unhelpful…