blog
6 tips to help your group presentations be a dream – not a nightmare!
May 31, 2020 |
Presenting tips
|business presentations, communication tips, group presentations, PRESENTATION TIPS, Presenting tips, team presentations |
A large proportion of the presentation skills masterclasses we carry out in-company tend to be for individuals within a team. These individuals want to give their presentation skills a serious overhaul to bring them to the next level. Or in some instances, individuals on the team are giving their own presentation at a conference, all hands, quarterly business review or other internal or external event and want to be at their absolute best.
However, more and more, we find clients approaching us to work with teams of people who would not ordinarily present.
Why so?
Well, the main reason is that quite often clients, or prospective clients, want to see more than a salesperson. They want to see the people who they will deal with, day to day and week to week, in the course of transacting their business. Whether that is an outsourced IT team, auditors or a creative team.
Presenting as a group raises certain issues that you need to address so that your team comes across as a cohesive T...
However, more and more, we find clients approaching us to work with teams of people who would not ordinarily present.
Why so?
Well, the main reason is that quite often clients, or prospective clients, want to see more than a salesperson. They want to see the people who they will deal with, day to day and week to week, in the course of transacting their business. Whether that is an outsourced IT team, auditors or a creative team.
Presenting as a group raises certain issues that you need to address so that your team comes across as a cohesive T...
On Your Seat! 5 tips for giving seated presentations
Apr 08, 2020 |
Presenting tips
It is natural to stand when giving a presentation – it helps us to feel confident, more in control and gives us an air of authority. We can see the audience clearly thereby gauging their reactions easily, and we can move around during the presentation if we feel comfortable doing so.
So, why would we choose to give a seated presentation?
Sometimes it’s just not practical to stand up to present, due to the room size, the audience size, or other restrictions. The situation with Covid-19 has meant a large number of people, both here and abroad, have been ordered to work from home. This may have thrown a lot of people in at the deep end when it comes to using a different form of communication e.g. video calls, giving presentations online, virtual team meetings etc.
One thing that does stay the same, regardless of whether you are sitting, or standing is preparation! You need to know who you are presenting to, why they need to hear your message, and how your presentation needs to...
So, why would we choose to give a seated presentation?
Sometimes it’s just not practical to stand up to present, due to the room size, the audience size, or other restrictions. The situation with Covid-19 has meant a large number of people, both here and abroad, have been ordered to work from home. This may have thrown a lot of people in at the deep end when it comes to using a different form of communication e.g. video calls, giving presentations online, virtual team meetings etc.
One thing that does stay the same, regardless of whether you are sitting, or standing is preparation! You need to know who you are presenting to, why they need to hear your message, and how your presentation needs to...
Leo, leading by example, staying calm under pressure!
Mar 25, 2020 |
Other, Presenting tips
|communication tips, Presenting tips, PUBLIC SPEAKING TIPS, speech, St Patrick's Day Speech |
On 17th March at 9pm, like many other Irish families we sat, with more than a touch of trepidation as we waited for a speech from our Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar.
As the Taoiseach himself noted, this was a St Patrick’s Day we would all remember, with no parties and no parades. However, his speech was also a part of this St Patrick’s Day that we shall always remember.
So, what made this speech so memorable?
1. Opening and immediately connecting
Being St Patrick’s Day – it was appropriate to open with a greeting in Irish to wish everyone a Happy St Patrick’s Day – Lá Fhéile Pádraig shona daoibh.
However, he immediately connected by moving swiftly on to what was on all of our minds. Namely, it is St Patrick’s Day, and here we were sitting in front of the TV watching him, as opposed to either partying ourselves, or watching highlights of the parades and other people partying.
So, from the start, he had us hooked in to what he had to say.
Takeaway: When we have to de...
As the Taoiseach himself noted, this was a St Patrick’s Day we would all remember, with no parties and no parades. However, his speech was also a part of this St Patrick’s Day that we shall always remember.
So, what made this speech so memorable?
1. Opening and immediately connecting
Being St Patrick’s Day – it was appropriate to open with a greeting in Irish to wish everyone a Happy St Patrick’s Day – Lá Fhéile Pádraig shona daoibh.
However, he immediately connected by moving swiftly on to what was on all of our minds. Namely, it is St Patrick’s Day, and here we were sitting in front of the TV watching him, as opposed to either partying ourselves, or watching highlights of the parades and other people partying.
So, from the start, he had us hooked in to what he had to say.
Takeaway: When we have to de...
10 ways to build rapport when presenting
Have you ever sat in a presentation nodding along to the presenter, feeling as though they are talking directly to you?
You hang onto their every word and feel like this could be the beginning of a great professional relationship, maybe even friendship?
Some presenters are naturals when it comes to building rapport with their audience. They have a natural presence, a really good energy that the audience picks up on and reacts positively to.
Others may struggle in this area.
The good news is that anyone can build rapport when presenting, it just takes a bit of time. We share below our top 10 tips to help you build rapport the next time you give a presentation.
Firstly, what exactly is rapport?
Wikipedia states that:
Rapport is a close and harmonious relationship in which the people or groups concerned are “in sync” with each other, understand each other’s feelings or ideas, and communicate smoothly.
Tony Robbins sums it up in the following quote:
“Rapport is the a...
You hang onto their every word and feel like this could be the beginning of a great professional relationship, maybe even friendship?
Some presenters are naturals when it comes to building rapport with their audience. They have a natural presence, a really good energy that the audience picks up on and reacts positively to.
Others may struggle in this area.
The good news is that anyone can build rapport when presenting, it just takes a bit of time. We share below our top 10 tips to help you build rapport the next time you give a presentation.
Firstly, what exactly is rapport?
Wikipedia states that:
Rapport is a close and harmonious relationship in which the people or groups concerned are “in sync” with each other, understand each other’s feelings or ideas, and communicate smoothly.
Tony Robbins sums it up in the following quote:
“Rapport is the a...
10 TEDx tips from idea to delivery
Mar 04, 2020 |
Other, Presenting tips
|PRESENTATION TIPS, Presenting tips, PUBLIC SPEAKING TIPS, TEDX |
Many people have an ambition to deliver a TEDx talk – it is a wonderful ambition to have! It was an ambition I had, and managed to fulfill in October 2016. I was thrilled to be able to share my message that “you probably are more intelligent than you think you are” in my talk. This is a personal topic that is about my eldest daughter Katie. She struggled academically and yet was super intelligent in other ways.
You would think that, as a TEDx speaker coach since 2014 and a high impact presentations facilitator since 2001 I would have found it super easy to put together my own talk.
Not so! I have to confess, I did struggle to hone my talk – typical of the shoemaker and shoes! This talk is so different to training or speaking at an event, areas in which I am totally within my comfort zone. Many of the speakers I coach say the same thing, it really is a different type of talk altogether.
Recently I did a Live Stream with Lottie Hearn of #LIVEWithLottie ConfidenceO...
You would think that, as a TEDx speaker coach since 2014 and a high impact presentations facilitator since 2001 I would have found it super easy to put together my own talk.
Not so! I have to confess, I did struggle to hone my talk – typical of the shoemaker and shoes! This talk is so different to training or speaking at an event, areas in which I am totally within my comfort zone. Many of the speakers I coach say the same thing, it really is a different type of talk altogether.
Recently I did a Live Stream with Lottie Hearn of #LIVEWithLottie ConfidenceO...
5 key areas of body language to keep in mind when presenting
What is the first thing you think of when you are preparing to give a presentation?
I bet it’s not your body language! And yet how we come across to an audience plays just as important a role as what we are saying. Your facial expressions, your hand movements, your stance all have a vital role in communicating your message to your audience.
Overall body language is an area a lot of our clients struggle with… “it doesn’t feel natural when making hand gestures”… “I feel self-conscious moving around the stage”… “I don’t feel comfortable making eye contact”. These are all acceptable feelings when it comes to delivering presentations.
Below are our tips to help you focus positively on your body language the next time you present or speak in front of a group.
1. Posture / Stance
Standing up straight is one of the main presentation skills to learn and good for 3 reasons: the first one is we can look more confident when we stand tall; secondly it also help...
I bet it’s not your body language! And yet how we come across to an audience plays just as important a role as what we are saying. Your facial expressions, your hand movements, your stance all have a vital role in communicating your message to your audience.
Overall body language is an area a lot of our clients struggle with… “it doesn’t feel natural when making hand gestures”… “I feel self-conscious moving around the stage”… “I don’t feel comfortable making eye contact”. These are all acceptable feelings when it comes to delivering presentations.
Below are our tips to help you focus positively on your body language the next time you present or speak in front of a group.
1. Posture / Stance
Standing up straight is one of the main presentation skills to learn and good for 3 reasons: the first one is we can look more confident when we stand tall; secondly it also help...
Presentation Planning Tips – Ideal for Your Audience
Jan 10, 2020 |
Presenting tips
It’s no surprise that we are all busy! It’s scary to think of how much time is wasted sitting in unproductive meetings, so the last thing anybody wants is to spend time watching / listening to a presentation that means nothing to them.
Presentation planning is key if you want to give a presentation that will leave a great impression with your audience. There are 3 key areas to consider when planning your presentation. Research must be undertaken so you know exactly who your audience is, what the purpose of your presentation is, and how it needs to be structured.
Below are our tips to help you do just that!
Who is your audience?
Have you ever listened to a presenter and thought “they really don’t have a clue about me”?
That is the last thing you want the audience thinking because it significantly reduces your chances of connecting with them and selling your message.
The audience are the most important people in the room. You are speaking to get an action or reacti...
Presentation planning is key if you want to give a presentation that will leave a great impression with your audience. There are 3 key areas to consider when planning your presentation. Research must be undertaken so you know exactly who your audience is, what the purpose of your presentation is, and how it needs to be structured.
Below are our tips to help you do just that!
Who is your audience?
Have you ever listened to a presenter and thought “they really don’t have a clue about me”?
That is the last thing you want the audience thinking because it significantly reduces your chances of connecting with them and selling your message.
The audience are the most important people in the room. You are speaking to get an action or reacti...
3 tips to handle a Q+A session effectively
Oct 30, 2019 |
Pitching, Presenting tips
|business presentations, communication tips, Presenting tips, Q+A session |
Do you or your sales team give great presentations but fall at the Q+A session?
Many years ago, when I was consulting for a major telecoms company, I was asked to sit in on a sales pitch being delivered by a global vendor of computer software. It was a household name back then and still is now. I mean, this was a BIG multinational. The 2 sales people arrived late, yes late!
However, they delivered a very professional company presentation. They had beautiful slides and it was obvious that they were well rehearsed and well prepared.
Well prepared … until it came to the questions and answers session.
Within less than 1 minute it became embarrassingly apparent to everyone in the room that they only knew the content on the slides! It was embarrassing for them and to be honest, for all of us in that room. They left shortly afterwards with their beautiful slides and their tails between their legs.
Nobody wants that to happen to them or their sales teams. It is not surprising t...
Many years ago, when I was consulting for a major telecoms company, I was asked to sit in on a sales pitch being delivered by a global vendor of computer software. It was a household name back then and still is now. I mean, this was a BIG multinational. The 2 sales people arrived late, yes late!
However, they delivered a very professional company presentation. They had beautiful slides and it was obvious that they were well rehearsed and well prepared.
Well prepared … until it came to the questions and answers session.
Within less than 1 minute it became embarrassingly apparent to everyone in the room that they only knew the content on the slides! It was embarrassing for them and to be honest, for all of us in that room. They left shortly afterwards with their beautiful slides and their tails between their legs.
Nobody wants that to happen to them or their sales teams. It is not surprising t...
5 tips to help boost your confidence when presenting
Aug 31, 2019 |
Presenting tips
|body language, business presentations, communicating with confidence, Presenting tips |
Did you know that a fear of public speaking cuts wages by 10%? We believe that statistic alone should bump you into action! However, one of the things that could be holding you back is confidence when presenting… or lack of.
Ask anyone how they feel just before they are due to give a presentation and we guarantee the answer will be NERVOUS! So, how do you cope with it? How do you reduce the nerves whilst appearing confident?
To begin with, there is a misconception about nerves. The “nerves” you feel is actually adrenalin and is a good thing. It shows you are excited and is completely normal. The adrenalin running through you, before or during a presentation, is your body’s way of getting ready for the big event. Believe it or not, stress and excitement are, at the basic level, neurologically the same. So, change your language and tell yourself you are excited.
When you tell yourself that you are excited and passionate, rather than nervous, it changes your demeanour...
Ask anyone how they feel just before they are due to give a presentation and we guarantee the answer will be NERVOUS! So, how do you cope with it? How do you reduce the nerves whilst appearing confident?
To begin with, there is a misconception about nerves. The “nerves” you feel is actually adrenalin and is a good thing. It shows you are excited and is completely normal. The adrenalin running through you, before or during a presentation, is your body’s way of getting ready for the big event. Believe it or not, stress and excitement are, at the basic level, neurologically the same. So, change your language and tell yourself you are excited.
When you tell yourself that you are excited and passionate, rather than nervous, it changes your demeanour...
Preparation tips before presenting
We are huge TED fans here at On Your Feet. We’re constantly reading the TED blog, watching their talks and picking up tips on presenting, speaking and communication which we then share with our own clients, and you!
One of the TED speaker coaches we admire is Gina Barnett. Gina has been a TED speaker coach since 2011 and is the author of Play the Part: Master Body Signals to Connect and Communicate for Business Success.
She shares her tips on preparing for TED Talks and communication techniques.
In this blog post we thought we would share the link to one of our favourite articles by Gina… in case you hadn’t come across it:
A TED speaker coach shares 11 tips for right before you go on stage.
We hope you pick up some useful pointers you can use next time you give a presentation, and if you want further tips check out our earlier blog where Barbara shares her tips following her own experience of giving a TEDx Talk....
One of the TED speaker coaches we admire is Gina Barnett. Gina has been a TED speaker coach since 2011 and is the author of Play the Part: Master Body Signals to Connect and Communicate for Business Success.
She shares her tips on preparing for TED Talks and communication techniques.
In this blog post we thought we would share the link to one of our favourite articles by Gina… in case you hadn’t come across it:
A TED speaker coach shares 11 tips for right before you go on stage.
We hope you pick up some useful pointers you can use next time you give a presentation, and if you want further tips check out our earlier blog where Barbara shares her tips following her own experience of giving a TEDx Talk....