I remember when the pandemic hit five years ago, many speakers were blindsided. They were used to commanding a room, working a stage, and connecting face-to-face — but suddenly, everything moved online. And those who hadn’t taken time to familiarize themselves with virtual platforms, lighting, and engagement tools had to scramble to catch up. It was a […]

Is boring your audience something you worry about? Well, you’re in good company. This is one of the most common reasons that speakers get nervous. It’s a valid concern! No one wants to see eyes glazing over and body language that screams total disinterest. What’s a speaker to do? First – it takes knowing WHO […]

There is definitely a process to writing a speech! Before my clients start working with me, many of them have one idea about the speech creation process and then have a totally different idea after. It’s often like night and day when they see the difference in how their speech comes out. This is because […]

A lot of the same public speaking advice has been circling the globe for decades, and I heard it all too when I got into public speaking 15+ years ago. However, just because a recommendation has been circulating forever, doesn’t mean it’s helpful! There are 7 particular recommendations I would classify as outdated or misunderstood. […]

I remember that day clearly… Early on in my public speaking journey, I was giving a presentation to a group that’s part of an organization I’m in. It was what you’d call a “canned presentation.” This is a pre-prepared and standardized presentation that’s already been detailed and structured down to the “T”, so that the […]

Presenting to company leadership can be nerve-wracking, especially when you want to make a good impression and have a limited amount of time to do it. Speaking to a C-suite leader or other high-level executives brings its own set of challenges than the typical ones you might experience with other presentations.. However, with the right […]

I regularly attend a hybrid meeting every week, and have had the opportunity to be both an in-person attendee and online attendee. This is a well-run meeting with lots of engagement for both audience types and very few stumbling blocks that disrupt the flow. I’m very fortunate to attend this type of meeting, but let’s […]

“There are no boring speech topics. Just boring speakers.” Oof! Did this feel like a punch to the gut if you speak on a “boring” topic? This is a long-standing saying in public speaking, and one I wholeheartedly agree with! There are people everywhere who speak on topics not typically thought of as riveting, and […]

Be honest: How are your public speaking skills post-pandemic? I know, I know; the pandemic was four years ago. But we still see effects of it in our lives today from masks still being worn daily to wearing gloves to hand sanitizer everywhere you turn (I personally LOVE this one). But what about other ways […]

How has virtual speaking been going for you?? Speaking virtually comes with its own set of challenges and concerns that are different from in-person speaking.  And even though online speaking has picked up and become a part of normal everyday life now, I still see virtual speakers struggling with many of the same problems that […]