“People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.” “Haters aren’t your problem. Ignoring them is.” “You can’t change what you do until you change how you see.” What do those three phrases have in common? They capture someone’s Big Idea (Simon Sinek, Jay Baer,…me). They’re short (tweetable, even!). They’re clear. They’re memorable, […]
Presenting
Presenting Without Slides or Notes – EP:091
Presenting without slides or notes can happen by accident or on purpose, but how do you do it? It’s not about memorization, but internalization. With memorization, you’re thinking about which word comes next. Internalization, however, is about remembering which concept comes after which concept. When it comes to presenting without slides or notes, there’s a […]
How Much Do I Need to Prepare for my Presentation? EP:088
In order to best prepare for your presentation, you need to decide how important it is to you. There’s a big difference between low-stakes and a high-stakes situation, and how much you prepare should reflect that. But more importantly, realize that you are the one who decides how important a particular presentation is to you. […]
Why you need a process for problem-solving
I blame my boys for the last two weeks. I mean, it’s a good thing, but still. It’s totally their fault I’ve been spending the last two weeks teaching myself how to solve a Rubik’s Cube. Now, you may be saying to yourself, “Um…Tamsen, isn’t that something you should have figured out 30 years ago?” And […]
What Are Speaking Points? – EP:085
Speaking points are the ideas you want the audience to leave your presentation understanding. Thinking about them ahead of time has two benefits. First of all, you can make sure your speaking points are sharp. Secondly, you can look at what your audience says after your presentation and see if they show up. We know […]
Why you need to write your own rules
For years, Content Marketing World—the world’s largest content marketing conference—was the one conference I couldn’t get on the schedule for. Tom, my husband, went year after year and was loved and adored (as he should be). Five years ago, I peevishly asked him, “Why don’t people love me on stage as much as you? Why […]
How to Overcome Shyness and Stage Fright – EP082
Shyness and stage fright are part of our flight or fight response, but how can we overcome them? The first step is to know that it’s normal. The other thing to realize is that delivery is the least important part of getting your message across. Your audience will give you the benefit of doubt if […]
How and When to Use Slides in Your Presentation – EP080
Treat Important Ideas Differently This week we look at how and when to your slides in a presentation about your idea. There are few more polarizing topics, however, so let’s talk about how slides work. Our brains are wired to process visual information, so the more that we can pair what we’re saying with what […]
How to start a presentation your audience wants to keep listening to
Let’s say you sit down to read a new mystery novel. You crack open the cover, flip to the first page, and just as you’re about to read the first line, your (soon-to-be-former) friend comes over and says, “The butler did it.” GAH. Why does that drive us nuts? And more importantly, why does it […]
The Key to Effective Technical Communication – EP074
Seeing Things From a Different Perspective Effective technical communication is tricky because we suffer from the “Curse of Knowledge.” We don’t remember what it’s like to be unfamiliar with all the jargon in our industry. It’s difficult to imagine what it’s like to not know something that we know. As a result, we end up […]