It is quite rare for your listeners to compliment you on your slides after your presentation; on the other hand, if they are difficult to read or understand, they will no longer listen to you and will talk about them after your presentation! More… »O Powerpoint, do not subject us to temptation!
Have you ever thought that not all of the meetings you are facilitating are as engaging as you think? You look around the room and you're not sure that your listeners are really engaged, or nodding politely and going through the motions. Here are five ideas to energize your presentations. More… »Help! My meetings are soporific!
Here's the context: You've just wrapped up a business, technical, or scientific presentation to an external audience and the person in charge of that event or the client asks you for the slide deck you used. How will you respond to this request? More… »May we please have your slide deck?
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?
Beaucoup de professionnels consacrent 80% de leur temps de préparation d’une présentation importante au design et à l’élaboration de diapositives, tandis qu’ils alloueront 20% de leur temps à la confection de messages-clé et à la pratique. Et si vous renversiez les pourcentages?
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.