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The Ricky Gervais Lesson – If You’re Going to Offend, Do It on Purpose
Presentation Guru
JANUARY 15, 2020
Ricky Gervais, the overexposed English comedian, writer, and actor, hosted Hollywood’s Golden Globes for the fifth time.
Presentation Guru
A Good Presentation Needs Structure
Presentation Guru
NOVEMBER 12, 2019
When you deliver a presentation, you know what you want to say but your audience doesn’t. It’s like you are on one side of a body of water and your audience is on the other. Your goal is to get the audience across to your side; your presentation is the bridge that will help them do just that.…
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How to Save Your Presentation When Your Mind Goes Blank
Presentation Guru
AUGUST 1, 2019
Have you ever been in the middle of a great presentation and all of a sudden your mind went completely blank about the next part of your presentation?
3 New Design Trends to Use in Your Presentations
Presentation Guru
JANUARY 22, 2020
Let’s be honest, not everyone is a designer or has a professional designer on staff. A lot of business owners and marketers are creating their own graphics from scratch. At Venngage we have a ton of designers on staff but I still create a lot of my visuals!…
Now Is the Time to Look at Webinars
Presentation Guru
MARCH 13, 2020
The impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on our daily life is unprecedented and the increasing need to work from home and work online means we have to find innovative solutions to how we can keep our businesses moving through these testing times.…
6 Apps to Help You Deliver Killer Speeches and Presentations
Presentation Guru
MARCH 18, 2020
I am a big fan of TED Talks! The way people from all circles of life come up, narrating their perspectives and research helps me to nourish my intellect. What would I do if I had a chance to go up there and speak, you ask?…
It’s Time to Improve Speaking Skills for the Classroom and Beyond
Presentation Guru
FEBRUARY 5, 2020
Most adults fear public speaking and, let’s me honest, lots of us aren’t actually very good at it. If adults who have had years to hone the skills are not very good, what do you think the average school kid is like?
How to Deliver Robust yet Inspiring Presentations
Presentation Guru
NOVEMBER 27, 2019
Presentations. We have all been there and with varying degrees of success too. While a successful presentation is a proud moment, too often these are few and far between – with most receiving a lukewarm reception and almost immediately forgotten.
Powerful Presentation Formats You Didn’t Know About (But Should!)
Presentation Guru
NOVEMBER 19, 2019
We live in a world of public speakers who are so good at presenting information, they’re famous for it. There’s something about their style and delivery that just gets us to listen. As public speakers, they’re skilled and well-practised.
The Power of the Pause
Presentation Guru
MARCH 6, 2019
A story from Spain. I teach public speaking and presentation skills at a few Executive MBA Programmes in Switzerland and Spain. A few years ago, I was teaching a class at IESE in Barcelona. One of my students was a fellow named Manuel.…
How to Produce Booklet Handouts That Complement Your Presentation
Presentation Guru
MARCH 13, 2020
Handouts are a hotly debated topic in the presentation world. What kind to give out, what you should include in them, when to distribute them, and even if you should have them at all are all major points of discussion.
Taking It to the Next Level: Stand up Comedy – How Hard Can It Be?
Presentation Guru
MAY 8, 2019
When John, Emma and I set up Presentation Guru we wanted to create a shared resource (The ‘guru’ is the community, not any one of us) of hundreds of articles for speakers, at every stage of their development, to help them do three things: Create engaging stories.
6 Questions You Need to Ask When Editing Presentation Content
Presentation Guru
JULY 12, 2019
Putting together a presentation is a challenge most of us will face at least once in our professional lives, and although it isn’t rocket science, many people still fail to deliver on the basic principles of an effective presentation.
The Most Successful Presentations Use This Framework
Presentation Guru
MARCH 2, 2020
Stories are memorable, stories make a connection and so stories stick. All good. But if you don’t consider yourself a natural raconteur where do you start? Right here… Rob D Willis shares the framework for the perfect business pitch. What’s in it for me?”…
It’s Time to Maximise the Power of Storytelling
Presentation Guru
SEPTEMBER 13, 2019
Take some time to remember one of the most famous of Aesop’s Fables. A slow, yet persistent reptile defeats a famously quick and cocky rabbit. Despite various setbacks, the underdog tortoise keeps at it and is rewarded with a victory.… … Message Storytelling featured Story Structure
How AI is Set to Shape Our Presentations in the Future
Presentation Guru
OCTOBER 29, 2019
The Algorithmic Mentor. Wouldn’t it be great to know if your presentation will be warmly received before giving it? Thanks to a machine-learning system developed by Toshihiko Yamasaki, this could soon be the case.
5 Public Speaking Tips for Even the Most Introverted
Presentation Guru
APRIL 25, 2019
Let’s face it, running a small business requires you to do things you wouldn’t normally do, like public speaking. From presenting in front of investors and lenders to speaking at conferences, public speaking is inevitable for business success. But, up to 75% of people are scared of public speaking.…
How to … Use Video in Your Presentations
Presentation Guru
OCTOBER 3, 2019
Earlier in September, my fellow columnist Rob Oliver wrote a great piece on using video in sales presentations. If you are in sales or pitching, he has some fantastic ideas for you.
Five Resolutions to Make You a Better Speaker in 2019
Presentation Guru
DECEMBER 21, 2018
As 2018 draws to a close, many people turn their minds to the year to come and what they hope to achieve. And with those thoughts come resolutions.
Learning From Adversity – 4 Lessons for Public Speakers
Presentation Guru
MARCH 24, 2020
As I write this, the coronavirus pandemic is in full swing, and life as we know it has been altered forever. It’s anyone’s guess if, and when, things will return to normal. Welcome to the Twilight Zone. But somehow, even now, my impulse to work and create, to bring meaning and support to my clients and colleagues continues.… … Build Your Skills credibility featured inspiration Must-Reads for every presentation professional Practice preparation
More Lessons from Stand-up Comedy
Presentation Guru
MAY 28, 2019
Kudos to my friend and co-founder of Presentation Guru, Jim Harvey. Jim recently took the plunge and jumped into the world of stand-up comedy. He shares some of the things that he has learned in this post, Taking it to the Next Level: Stand Up Comedy – How Hard Can it Be?
Scientific Presentations – It’s All About the Data… or Is It?
Presentation Guru
SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
When I offered to a friend, who is still active in academic research and at the time was searching a new position, to help him with the presentations he’d invariably have to hold, he declined.
Problem Solving with Digital Signage
Presentation Guru
JANUARY 29, 2020
Everywhere you look, digital signage screens are popping up. Banks, restaurants, waiting rooms, government facilities, and factory floors are all using this new technology to keep their employees and customers informed.
Free Online Resources to Make Your Presentations More Visual
Presentation Guru
JUNE 21, 2019
No matter what the ultimate goal of your presentation is, you can’t achieve that goal if your presentation doesn’t effectively transfer information. It may feel counterintuitive, but visuals are the best way to transfer information in a presentation. A picture is worth a thousand words, as they say.
Improvise to Improve Your People Skills
Presentation Guru
NOVEMBER 20, 2018
Most people don’t spend their lives giving presentations. Many people spend NONE of their lives giving presentations. Lots of leaders I’ve met would rather not have to give any.
Tips on Designing and Delivering Engaging Presentations
Presentation Guru
MAY 3, 2019
Every day, up and down the country, and across the globe, thousands if not millions of poor audience members are sat down in a conference hall ready to endure up to 3 hours of painstaking presentations.
How to… Use Visual Aids
Presentation Guru
JULY 5, 2019
In this episode of my “How to…” series I’m going to talk about using visual aids in your presentation. Visual aids are helpful to give your audience another way of accessing the information you are trying to communicate.
The Secret to Perfecting Your Style and Delivery as a Speaker
Presentation Guru
SEPTEMBER 25, 2018
What a seasoned public speaker brings to the stage is a collection of presentation skills. It is these skills that help the speaker connect with the audience, communicate a clear message, and make that message memorable.
8 Ways to Protect Your Presentation
Presentation Guru
FEBRUARY 20, 2020
Intellectual property can be some of the most valuable assets your business has – and yes, your presentation does come into that. You wouldn’t think twice about protecting any other property you own, so why not it?
5 Amazing Apps to Take Your Writing to the Next Level
Presentation Guru
JUNE 14, 2019
When writing speeches or pitches, you can easily make mistakes but, fortunately, there are many tools that can help you nowadays. The good news is that there is an app for everyone, and you can pick the one that works best for you.…
5 Ways to Make Your Scientific Research Presentation Flow
Presentation Guru
APRIL 3, 2019
Often, when scientists think of giving a presentation on their research, flow is the furthest thing from their thoughts. The accuracy of the data, quality of the experiments, and intricate details that make up experiments are typically considered to be much more important.…
5 Ways Using Video Will Make Your Presentation Even Better
Presentation Guru
SEPTEMBER 5, 2019
Thanks to the accessibility of high-speed internet connectivity, staggering amounts of information are available at everyone’s fingertips. This, in fact, makes it even more challenging to deliver a sales presentation that leaves a lasting impression on your potential clients.
7 Public Speaking Secrets You Wished You Knew Earlier
Presentation Guru
OCTOBER 18, 2019
How do you feel when your college or university professor asks you to come on stage and deliver a presentation? Does stage fright get the better of you? Does fear of public speaking prevent your words from coming out naturally? If yes, then you are not alone.…
The Powerful Speakers Who Show You How to Wow a Crowd
Presentation Guru
JULY 18, 2019
It has been a great decade for speeches, as more individuals have taken the stage to deliver some of the most compelling, humorous, and memorable ones in recent history. Take it from the experts below, who sure know how to wow a crowd or move an entire stadium to tears.…
5 Presentation Tasks You Really Should Outsource to the Experts
Presentation Guru
JUNE 28, 2019
Done right, a presentation can make or break a deal, your career or even your entire business. Creating something incredible in PowerPoint takes a lot of time and skill – time you might not have, and skill your team might lack.…
How to…. Tell Stories in Your Presentations
Presentation Guru
OCTOBER 2, 2018
In the latest in my occasional “How to…” series, we’re going to discuss how to tell stories as part of your presentation.
Who Needs a Presentation Designer? You and Here’s Why
Presentation Guru
FEBRUARY 12, 2020
We recently featured an article with great ideas for designing your own presentations – all made so easy nowadays with the vast range of software available. But sometimes, even with all the user-friendly tips and tricks out there, you need more.
3 Habits That Will Take Your Presentation Skills to the Next Level
Presentation Guru
MARCH 20, 2019
There are lots of articles on here that will help you build a strong foundation as a public speaker: articles to help you create a strong story , articles to help you build professional and engaging visual aids , and articles to help you connect with your audience as you speak.
PowerPoint vs. PDF: Which Is the Best Way to Deliver Your Presentation?
Presentation Guru
JANUARY 15, 2019
Giving a presentation is a daily occurrence for many of us. From travelling sales people pitching in high pressure environments, to teachers imparting knowledge in a fun way to children, presentations are vital to communication. Millions are taking place each day.…
5 of the Best Books for Public Speakers
Presentation Guru
SEPTEMBER 27, 2018
The best way to become a better speaker is — wait for it — to get up on stage and speak. We never learn faster than when we have “skin in the game”. But we can also learn from others. Today, there are hundreds of books on the market that can help people become better speakers and presenters.…
The Best Way to Use Visual Elements in Your Slides
Presentation Guru
NOVEMBER 6, 2019
As I work with many professional graphic designers, I’ve witnessed firsthand how important it is to synergize great messaging with strong visuals. I’ve also witnessed this pairing go very, very wrong.
The Guru’s Big Five Questions – Chantal Bossé
Presentation Guru
JANUARY 10, 2020
Chantal Bossé has been a TEDx speaker coach since 2012 and Microsoft PowerPoint MVP since 2013. As a presentation & visual communication leader, she spends her time between writing, training, coaching and designing for her clients and speakers.
How to Captivate and Persuade Your Audience with Transparency
Presentation Guru
APRIL 18, 2019
Giving a presentation is like pulling up to a stranger in your car and yelling, “Hey, let’s go for a drive!“ You’re hoping that the stranger will humor you and at least get in the car, giving you a chance to prove that you’re a trustworthy driver and that it’s going to be a great ride.…
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