emotion

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW: Most remarks from panelists and guests at fireside chats are formulaic, safe — and instantly forgettable. But master storyteller Shonda Rhimes recently showed how women leaders and other speakers can be memorable when they trade safe, familiar answers for blunt language, personal vulnerability and an unexpected point of view. Read on for three […]

What if your next persuasive speech leaves your audience with gifts they never saw coming? Gifts they will remember and treasure – long after they leave the room? Read on to learn the expected and unexpected gifts of persuasion, and why the art of persuasion in public speaking is an act of service, not self-promotion. […]

A longtime client recently asked me to lead a “train the trainer” workshop for subject matter experts – in accounting, IT, credit, purchasing and other business services – so these folks could improve the content and delivery of their professional presentations. All 40 of these experts-turned-presenters shared the same goal: To persuade their audiences to […]

Even the most polished executives on a panel or fireside chat can lose an audience if they slip into bad habits – like diving deep into complexities, giving long-winded answers and delivering responses that sound like lectures. Strategic communication for executives is essential if you want to shine on panels and fireside chats. In this […]

Human decision making is emotional – not logical. If you want your strategic messaging to change the way your audience thinks or behaves, logic alone will never cut it – no matter how many proof points you have. The way ahead is to create emotional connections with your audience so that people care, remember what […]