The beginning of the presentation is your prime real estate. It’s when your audience decides if you are worth paying attention to or not. In my workshops, I call this the HOOK. You can do this by either asking a question, making a bold statement or telling a story that relates to your topic.
Talking about first impressions. Have you ever watched two young children meet each other for the first time? They are usually introduced, look each other warily up and down for a few seconds and then one says something like, “Do you want to go and play on the trampoline?” Sometimes, prompted or not, it is off they go. Give them exactly three minutes and they are chatting and playing away,
It’s easy to understand why so many of us feel self-conscious at times. We’re concerned about making a good impression, and we want others to see us in a positive light, so we experience a heightened awareness of how we look, what we say, and what our body language is expressing. While it’s important to be mindful of the way you present yourself and the message it sends, being overly self-conscious can actually sabotage your efforts to make a strong impression,
When giving a presentation, one of the most important factors of success is the ability to make your audience feel like you’re genuinely connecting with them and interested in their needs. If they don’t feel like the information you’re giving them has been personalized – if it feels like a memorized speech – you’re likely to lose their interest. Instead, try to make them feel like you genuinely want your presentation to connect with them.
Nadia is so grateful to have had the opportunity to host SOS Children’s Villages’ global event. It is a wonderful organization. Enjoy some of the great photos from her trip. And feel free to view part 1 of her album here.
Nadia is so grateful to have had the opportunity to host SOS Children’s Villages’ global event. It is a wonderful organization. Enjoy some of the great photos from her trip. And feel free to view part 2 of her album here.
Our times have been dubbed the “Age of Distraction,” and I was recently reminded of how potentially perilous distraction can be, especially for pedestrians! I was driving to CNN and I was on the phone talking to a potential client about presentation topics. I was so engrossed that I literally didn’t notice the police officer at the crosswalk, telling me to stop.
He pulled me over and gave me a very stern warning.
I recently attended my daughter’s NYU graduation. This poem, Think of Others by Mahmoud Darwish, was read by one of the speakers. I thought it was really beautiful and thought-provoking, and wanted to share it with you.
As you prepare your breakfast, think of others
(do not forget the pigeon’s food).
As you conduct your wars, think of others
(do not forget those who seek peace).
As you pay your water bill,
Own Your Space, published by Pan McMillan
