Do you take the time to get on stage before you speak--preferably the stage on which you'll be speaking? ask because it's a step overlooked by many speakers, or one dismissed by some organizers, probably because it sounds too simple. Why would you need some orientation to the stage before you speak? What are you sight guidelines? From the wings? MORE >>

Last week I was reviewing a sales presentation someone sent me. They are pitching their services to a major prospective client and they know that their competition will be strong. So how do they start their presentation? With slide after slide about their firm, with text and graphics copied from their web site. don’t think so. MORE >>

I am sitting in an audience at a conference. This third speaker today seems interesting, speaks with passion. He is now on his seventh powerpoint slide. Each slide is interesting and well designed. My neighbor leans in towards me. lean towards him. He says: "What is this guy telling us again?" Sadly, this is a common occurrence. Delete the slide. MORE >>

The single most effective way to add a professional look to shapes on a slide is to add a bevel. What’s a bevel, you may ask? bevel is a 3D effect on the edge of a shape. The bevel makes the shape look raised. Here are the preset bevel looks, but you can adjust them to your liking: Don’t they look cool? Select the shape. Leave a comment! MORE >>

I recently worked with a client who speaks on a very sensitive topic. It's the kind of topic that's painful for a lot of people and you've probably never heard a joke about it. So when I suggested that she lighten up her presentation a bit with some humor, she balked. She said she felt she should be more reverent. particularly like Courtney A. MORE >>