Speechwriting

Learn the one thing you must do as a speaker to avoid epic fails (aka speeches gone wrong).   I was doing some catch-up work last week and tuned in to a recorded virtual presentation on a timely business topic delivered by an executive a few weeks ago. I tried to pay attention (really I […]

Working on a speech for a virtual audience? Give your creative juices a jolt with these five ideas for a fresh approach to your opening lines.   Getting a virtual audience on the edge of their virtual seats is no small feat.   The best presenters agonize over their opening lines – and rightly so! […]

To memorize or not to memorize? That is the question. If you want to know how to be confident when public speaking, do the work it takes to internalize your speech.   A common question I get from leaders preparing to deliver a keynote speech at either an in-person or virtual event is this: Should […]

Your conference keynote may miss the mark if you forget to tap one of the best public speaking resources available to every speaker right now.   The email arrived late on a Monday evening: “I have to prepare the closing keynote speech at a prestigious annual conference for more than 1,000 technical professionals online. I’m […]

If you’re the one chosen to deliver an unforgettable anniversary or wedding speech in front of family and friends, don’t let the special occasion rattle you. Instead, follow this simple advice.   Last weekend I had the honor of delivering a speech and offering a toast during a small family gathering to celebrate my parents’ […]

Inspirational leadership is what CEOs and business leaders everywhere strive constantly to provide. When leaders find themselves struggling to find just the right words, often it is helpful to go back in history for some quiet study and reflection.   Abraham Lincoln is the first of four U.S. presidents examined in Doris Kearns Goodwin’s 2018 book, […]

Even “ordinary” speeches call for effective leadership communication techniques. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s Budget 2020 speech offers concrete ideas and inspiration for CEOs and business leaders everywhere.   Nations and businesses worldwide are opening back up – albeit slowly – after months of strict lockdowns since the coronavirus began traipsing across the globe. […]

Don’t give in to temptation. All those digital tools available for your virtual keynote presentation should complement – not replace – time-tested methods to engage and persuade your audience.   No doubt you’ve been attending virtual events these days. Perhaps you’ve even delivered a virtual keynote presentation as more business is conducted online. Around the […]

The fate of your keynote speech has been up in the air for weeks, and today you finally got the word: That association meeting or annual conference you were eagerly anticipating will now be a virtual event because the coronavirus remains a threat.   What does that mean for you and your keynote speech? You […]

Use this checklist to determine if you are making mistakes with your message when you speak in public:   1. Are you being unclear about your purpose? If you can’t state in one sentence the purpose of your talk, you’ll find yourself including information that does not connect, is irrelevant or both. The fix: Take […]