When presenting yourself to your audience as a leader, it is vitally important to engage in that presentation with confidence. However, the nature of that confidence is equally important. It is common to assume that an antagonistic authority that relies on dominance is the most compelling source for one's assurance, and it can certainly be effective, as far as that goes, but that distance is short, and the relationships it breeds are brittle. The more productive approach

Success in public speaking would seem to be all about confidence, but humility has an important role, too: one must be able to recognize where there is room for improvement in their performance skills, and know when to ask for help. There's no shame in admitting a need for guidance: it's actually a show of strength to bend to reality and pursue growth. Too often, people in important positions assume that, because they already occupy their roles, there's no need to try to

The dreaded "um"s... They're placeholders for what you meant to say but forgot, or don't quite have ready yet, or for filling the space left by your brain as it struggles to keep up with your mouth when you're speaking extemporaneously. Usually, its use has become so ingrained that it seems impossible to speak without involuntarily relying on it. But...there is a cure: PRACTICE! You need to figure out where you are going with each part of your presentation/speech, then prac

A misnomer: it's not typically a sign of feeling happy. It's more often an expression of nervous energy to have your feet excitedly moving about. It's happened to me: I've found myself doing a step back/step forward dance while speaking to an audience, but as soon as I'm aware of it, I'll do what I counsel people to do--stop, breathe, proceed. As I've written before, movement is fine as long as it is purposeful and furthering a narrative. If it isn't, it's something to be

A common trap for public speakers is to adopt the false persona of the "speaker:" they find themselves confronted by an audience and assume the expectation is that they orate as they imagine a practiced, confident speaker would. It's a delusion based on a misconception, and it's meant to be a shield against anticipated criticism. It's also the opposite of a successful approach to public speaking. The best speakers are confidently themselves. They don't feel compelled to

What's the first thing you're going to say to an audience? You're standing there on a stage in front of a room full of people, and they're all staring at you--waiting for you to say something compelling, interesting, worth their time. What will it be? A joke? An embarrassing story? A charming anecdote? A dive into data? Will you endeavor to disarm your audience? Mesmerize them? Cajole them? Plead with them? No. You'll just talk to them. Speaking as you would to anyo

A little confidence goes a long way, even if it is imagined... When you are rehearsing your speech or presentation, practice speaking with confidence in yourself and what you are saying, even if you don't really believe it yet. The more you practice speaking with calm certitude, the more you'll actually feel it! Don't let what you fear your audience is thinking about you make you doubt yourself: make your audience think what you want them to think. That is confidence.

When speaking from a podium, there are some essential dos and don'ts that you must keep in mind: Plant your feet. Ideally, you want to hold yourself as if the podium weren't there: don't lean on it, or shift your weight from one foot to another. If you need to rest your hands on it, do so on the ledge of the shelf that holds your notes or computer. Don't grasp the sides or front of the podium (yes, I've watched in horror as speakers lecherously held onto it as if it were a

Pace, cadence, caesuras...these can be vital tools and reference points when speaking to an audience. The ideal is to keep a relatively...

A common mistake when giving a presentation is to read the text on your slides. As has been touched upon before, you don't want a lot of...

Like the great James Cagney used to say about acting: "Look 'em in the eye and tell 'em the truth." That's your job as a public speaker:...

In preparing for an interview, or for a presentation with time for questions afterwards, don't focus on specific questions that may be...

People are often told to smile when they are on camera, or in front of an audience, to show that they are friendly, nice people whom...

Only when you make yourself open--vulnerable--to your audience can you approach them from a position of strength and confidence. We...

Don't ask your audience for permission: just tell them what you want them to know. It's a common impulse to want to apologize to your...

Sure. You can think of putting together your presentation deck as an arbitrary, pro forma task that you perform because you always have,...

When engaged in public speaking, there are a multitude of additional pressures to the immediate demands of performance that can cloud...

When working on a speech or presentation, it's important to keep several things in mind: Make sure you are including all the vital pieces...

What do you sound like when you're speaking to an audience? Do you have a broad vocal range, or are you stuck in a monotone, or a rigid...

In Shakespeare-speak, to recite something "trippingly" means to speak with energy, fluidity, and ease. Yesterday, my 13-year-old daughter...