This past month, #PodiumGate has been in the news! It’s a weird story that involves politics, a suspected coverup, and — a super expensive lectern, of all things! Really? A lectern? Yes. Really! You can read about it here: #Podiumgate/#Lecterngate explained (ualrpublicradio.org). Hmmm. So, if the political intrigue and brouhaha is over a lectern, why [&]

https://maniactive.com/blog/4-tips-for-speaking-at-the-lectern/1549

How do I coach a SUPER FAST talker whos about to speak to an international audience? I dont tell them to slow down. What? Why? Why not???? Because it doesnt work! Oh, it can work for a minute or two. But then, the fast talker gets excited. Their nerves take over, and theyre working up [&]

https://maniactive.com/blog/why-telling-fast-talkers-to-slow-down-doesnt-work-and-what-to-do-instead/1533

How many famous Anas can you name? Ana de Armas.Ana Gasteyer.Ana Carolina& …but what about Anaphora? Anaphora, that linguistic enchantress.Anaphora, it casts a spell through repetition.Anaphora, the drumbeat that pounds ideas into memory…. Yeah, anaphora is probably one of the oldest literary devices out there! Its pretty simple: you repeat a word or phrase. The [&]

https://maniactive.com/blog/anaphora-the-ancient-art-of-repetition-that-makes-your-message-memorable/1541

I’m sick and tired of getting emails from what I call the Three Little Kittens. You know the story of the three little kittens who lost their mittens? Well, those three little losers are also in too much of a rush to hit “send” on their business emails. As a result, they’re missing three factors [&]

https://maniactive.com/blog/lost-mittens-lost-opportunities-the-3-little-kittens-of-business-emails/1528

The five little piggies were on a mission. They wanted to craft professional business emails that resonated with their recipients! Each piggy took a different approach: 🐷 The first little piggy went to market. It knew its purpose and got straight to the point! Its message was clear and concise. Like five toes, it ticked [&]

https://maniactive.com/blog/five-little-piggies-wrote-business-emails-and-so-can-you/1525

Mary, Mary. She’s quite contrary. And we’ve met her in business meetings, havent we? She’s the one who has been voted most likely to say or do something unconventional. She goes against the grain. So what can we do about Mary? With her “quite contrary” nature, Mary reminds us that diversity of thought in meetings [&]

https://maniactive.com/blog/how-to-cope-with-contrarians-in-business-meetings/1522

Once upon a wall, Humpty Dumpty attempted to deliver a business presentation that would leave a lasting impression. As we unravel the tale, we find remarkable parallels between Humpty Dumptys fall and our own presentation endeavors. 🥚 Fragile Beginnings! Like Humpty Dumptys delicate shell, presentations can make us feel vulnerable. Embrace this vulnerability as an [&]

https://maniactive.com/blog/crack-the-code-5-ways-business-presentations-are-like-humpty-dumpty/1519

When it comes to public speaking, are you a straw, stick, or brick presenter? Once upon a time, there were three little pigs—business presenters on a mission to captivate their audience and secure their success. Each piggy had a different approach, though: 🐷 Pig 1  the Straw Presenter: The first pig built its presentation [&]

https://maniactive.com/blog/presentation-lessons-from-the-3-little-pigs/1515

I strolled into my bank, ready to do some business. Little did I know, my diction was about to create a delightful moment! As I approached the bank teller, I said: Since the Fed raised interest rates again, it would behoove me to open a money market account with a higher interest rate. Hence, Id [&]

https://maniactive.com/blog/1509-2/1509

Imagine Goldilocks preparing a business presentation. She doesnt add too much detail. That might overwhelm her audience. But she doesnt use too little, either. She doesnt leave her audience info-starved! As usual, Goldilocks goes for that elusive just right amount of detail. So how does she do it? ✔ Goldilocks captivates with storytelling. She chooses [&]

https://maniactive.com/blog/the-goldilocks-guide-to-adding-detail-in-your-presentations/1504

I went to a business meeting in a small conference room. The presenter whipped out a PowerPoint deck and started presenting at us. It was odd. There was a whiteboard right behind him. Instead of presenting at us, we could have enjoyed a convivial and interactive whiteboard chat. If you automatically think, “I must PowerPoint [&]

https://maniactive.com/blog/ditch-your-slides-draw-on-the-power-of-whiteboard-talks/1495

Decades ago, my community decided to ban teaching contraception in grade nine sex ed classes. My sex ed teacher was a pretty crafty guy, though. He used a clever rhetorical device called paralipsis to teach us the necessary material. Paralipsis allows you to bring attention to something by pretending to ignore or omit it. In [&]

https://maniactive.com/blog/unlocking-the-power-of-paralipsis-say-more-by-not-saying-it/1492

Rehearsing spontaneity might seem like an oxymoron at first glance. But spontaneity is a skill. And like any other skill, it gets better with coaching and practice! Its why I often play improv games in public speaking classes, workshops, and consults. They can help us rehearse spontaneity and become more effective communicators! Heres how: While [&]

https://maniactive.com/blog/yes-you-can-rehearse-spontaneity-the-power-of-improv-games/1488

Sometimes, students will ask to be excused from delivering an oral report. Many say they have chosen careers where they wont be speaking to groups, ever  so why bother? Wouldnt a written report be better for them? Of course not! When you use your voice, you have the potential to change the world! Thats [&]

https://maniactive.com/blog/6-ways-public-speaking-transforms-you-as-a-person/1485

I was walking through the woods when a wild boar with red eyes and huge tusks stumbled out of the brush. He was panting furiously when he stopped to glare at me. We were about 8 feet away from each other. I froze in my tracks.He stared at me.I stared at him.He panted furiously.I was [&]

https://maniactive.com/blog/expressing-fears-of-wild-boars-roller-coasters-and-public-speaking/1480

Public speaking and your adorable dog may seem unrelated, but they actually share six commonalities: While public speaking and a dog may have different contexts and purposes, they both possess qualities that make them captivating, emotionally engaging, and memorable to the people who encounter them. How else is public speaking like a good dog? Laura [&]

https://maniactive.com/blog/how-is-public-speaking-like-your-dog/1475

HE: That presentation was filled with A-W-E. Acronyms Without Explanation!ME: So, it was an AWEful presentation?HE: Yep. Totally AWEful. I had no idea what was going on! Hey, it’s a good idea to avoid industry jargon and acronyms. But if you’ve got to use ‘em, at least explain ‘em. Don’t be so AWEful!  Laura Bergells [&]

https://maniactive.com/blog/awe-acronyms-without-explanation/1384