Sometimes great public speaking comes in unexpected packages, and here’s a prime example. This video’s “special message,” delivered by Chris Rock on Jimmy Kimmel Live, is one of the funniest and most pointed commentaries on race I’ve ever seen. By cataloging Barack Obama’s “white” habits, Chris Rock manages to skewer how we think about racial Read More
Celebrities and Other Real People Speak
New Jersey Got Help with Hurricane Sandy Because Chris Christie Didn’t Burn Bridges
The Temptation to Burn Bridges In my younger years, I was inclined to burn bridges. If I didn’t like how someone treated me, I just walked away from them— completely away! And I didn’t come back for a long, long time, if ever. This didn’t work well for me, and it wouldn’t have worked well Read More
Even Bill Clinton Needs Speech Prep!
Why Does One of the World’s Best Public Speakers Need to Prepare? If you’re tempted to think that only beginning or average public speakers need speech prep, think again! Preparation is key to public speaking success — and the more skilled a public speaker is, the more likely it is that he or she makes speech Read More
Bill Clinton’s Conversational Style: “Now, Listen to This!”
Conversational Style at the 2012 Convention Whatever your political views, the 2012 Democratic National Convention was a feast for students of great public speaking. Michelle Obama’s speech proved that fiery is feminine, and that women can exude power and poise, even while playing a traditional role. Then there was Bill Clinton. He’s probably the only Read More
Michelle Obama: Public Speaking Poise
To understand the phrase “own the room,” you don’t need to look any further than Michelle Obama’s speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. The First Lady gave a stunning display of being fully and calmly in charge of herself, her words, and all that she surveyed as she knocked her opening night presentation over Read More