Leon Sergent

When I got home yesterday, I had to push the front door with a little more vigor than usual because of the pile of flyers and junk mail that littered the floor of the entrance and blocked the doorstep. There was, however, in this mess a letter intended for me. This was of course the only piece that caught my eye. The rest ended up at the bottom of the recycling bin as it should. Do you ever attend presentations that were labelled "To the occupant"? More… »To the occupant? Target your audiences.

Have you ever been to a business presentation where the presenter seemed less interested in what they were saying than you did? You also witnessed speakers who were a little too enthusiastic and energetic and who made you feel like the topic didn't deserve so much! In these cases, beyond the words, the gestures and the projected images, it is the tone that seemed incongruous to you. The right tone can persuade, mobilize, and even inspire the audience, while a poorly adjusted tone can cause disengagement, confusion, and even offense. Here are 5 challenges to overcome to find the right tone. More… »I don’t think I like your tone!

If there is a persisting habit which has truly little value, it is that of grading the question before answering it during a presentation in front of an audience. Imagine for a moment that you are in the audience and your neighbour's question has been given the grade "Good question! " and that yours received no such appreciation, although your question was, in your opinion, as relevant as any other. Think also of all the questions from the audience that consistently receive the exact same grade. More… »Good question! Are you grading audience members?

Many professionals spend 80% of their time preparing an important presentation on designing and developing slides, while they will devote 20% of their time to making key messages and practicing them.

What if we flipped the percentages?

With all due respect to graphic designers, multimedia designers, and other communications and marketing specialists, I implore you to take it easy! More… »Visual supports: Moderation is always in good taste.

Have you ever had a conversation with someone who avoided your gaze? If so, and this is more common than you think, you probably felt somewhat ignored or you thought that you were in front of someone who was hiding something from you. In a business, scientific or technical presentation, your audience might feel that this presentation is of little or no importance, such as your presence, that you are a beginner or poorly prepared for this event. In all these cases, the lack of eye contact could put your best efforts at risk. Here are the reasons to pay attention to this essential skill and tips on how to do it successfully. More… »Why eye contact is a key to your success.

Many seasoned executives and professionals describe themselves as introverted and, by their own admission, lacking talent in public speaking, business and technical presentations. Surprisingly, it is their tendency towards introversion that gives them the qualities required to become competent and effective speakers. Here are 5 reasons why introversion could be a valuable asset to leverage your professional development. More… »Introversion: An asset for Effective Speakers.

Have you ever fallen into the trap of reworking a presentation at the last minute? The speech you gave last time was a great success, but this time you wish stubbornly to impress the peanut gallery and blow their minds. You were infatuated with the visual supports at first but now the honeymoon is over? Do you hear yourself saying the same words over and over and are now convinced that you can do so much better? Although I am a convert to the concept of continuous improvement, let me caution you against overdoing it. Careful! Sometimes perfect is the enemy of the good. More… »Perfect is the enemy of good

Have you ever felt a slight drop in energy and enthusiasm in the room as soon as slides containing bulleted lists appear on the screen? Last Thursday, during a presentation to professionals in the manufacturing field, I found myself getting tired of the content I was presenting. Surprised that I would admit to this? I can't blame my listeners for having these same sensations. Not that the subject was boring, nor that I am not the designer of this content, nor that the speech took place after a hearty lunch, nor that I wasn't at the top of my game. The cause? Bullets! An abundance of bullets. It's time to bring them to heel! Here are three ideas to eliminate or reduce their number: More… »Let's declare war on bullets! Three fixes.

For more than 25 years as a stakeholder in the Learning and and Development space, it appears to me that not all learning subject matters have the same observable returns. Some subject matters have an impact that is more difficult to measure over a longer period; others have a more immediate impact. If there is one investment in training that, in my opinion, allows for immediate and lasting change, it is that of business presentation skills, and here are the reasons: