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...

Doubt can creep into our minds at any time--and often does. But we can't let it take residence there, especially when we're in front of...

Hands are the most prolific conduit for nervous energy that a speaker is cursed with: they'll want to do all kinds of things,...

But, if you must, move with a purpose... Don't let your feet get the better of you when speaking to an audience: you may feel the impulse...

When engaged in a remote studio interview, or recording a message that will be sent out to your employees or constituents, it's easy to...

The only way you can truly engage with your audience is to make-and keep--eye contact with them. It's easy to want to make them an...