And I, uhm, really mean that! Before becoming a public speaking coach and speechwriter, I was a jazz singer. And as a jazz singer, I spent a lot of time—arguably, too much time—developing a smooth-as-silk vocal style. Some singers growl (think Janis Joplin). Others beguile (Dolly Parton) or proclaim (Beyoncé). I wanted to float people Read More
Public Speaking Skills
How to Not Sound Like a Chatbot
We’re human, so let’s make that an advantage There’s a lot to “love” about the way AI chatbots sound (and that includes the sound of their writing): Come to think of it, isn’t that just what we human beings want to sound like? Smooth, well-informed, and confident? (“Come to think of it” is a phrase Read More
How to Give Effective Feedback
Feedback is a touchy subject for me. Even though I give it all day in my one-on-one speaker coaching sessions, I still find it hard to receive. Sometimes I can plug into my rational mind, hear the critique I’m getting, and make use of it. But often, I have to fight off thoughts that are angry Read More
How Do You Handle Disrespectful Questions?
A Problem That’s Thankfully Rare Most of the time, an audience is on the speaker’s side. The people who come to hear you want you to succeed—in part because it’s more fun to listen to a speech that goes smoothly than to watch a speaker struggling onstage. But sometimes, your audience includes that person. The Read More
4 Secret Rules of “Office Speak”
Lately I’ve been helping lots of clients understand and upskill their use of “Office Speak.” What is that? It’s a “language” governing what, when, and how to communicate with the people in your office. It can be hard to pick up the nuances of workplace communication culture, especially if your office is virtual. But as with Read More