Pic courtesy Net_efekt. Time to get a bit philosophical, grasshoppers. Why are you doing this presentation? The instinctive response is: “Because someone asked me to.”. Because it’s in my job description.”. To fill half an hour on the program.”. Or maybe: “I’m not sure but I wish I didn’t have to.”. Do you want them to buy your software? Desirable. MORE >>

Pic: Auckland Zoo. Brain dead, time to look at pictures. There must be a PhD thesis in the anti-productivity effect of long holidays. Two weeks back and I’m still struggling to become a useful part of the business world. ve got all the tools laid out before me: laptop, phone, notepad, the specific brand of pen that I trust to generate ideas. MORE >>

Want your audience to actually act on your message? Here’s a list of words that will help you. But before you get them, grasshopper, take a moment to learn about the man who made this sort of list possible. You know the little scissors that go on the dotted line on newspaper coupons? Lester invented that, or so they tell me. Wunderman. Money. MORE >>

Room elephant by Banksy. Business and conference speeches are a fertile breeding ground for clichés, highly contagious terms that are carried back to infect everyone at the office. Before you know it, everyone’s giving each other a heads up and avoiding the elephant in the room. Often presenters aren’t even aware they’re using them. Going forward…. MORE >>

Pic Apremorca. Presentations are often about trying to get people to change their thinking or behavior. To try a new way of doing things. To see a subject through fresh eyes. Change is a tricky thing to achieve, because most people over 25 are very set in their ways and fear change more than spiders. But what about yourself? Start gently. It’s OK. MORE >>