There is always the intense excitement when you see runners in the starting blocks waiting for the gun to go off to signal the race is on. There is also the heartbreak of a runner who ‘jumps the gun’ which is also called a false start. There is absolutely an equivalent of the false start in communication and five ways to avoid it.
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When you hear a speaker share a brief snippet from their life, you instantly feel more engaged and connected to them. “That’s just like me!” “I have kids too!” It may be a simple reference to where they grew up, a sport they played, or how many children they have. When you share a bit of your human experience with an audience, you instantly become more relatable, and in turn, the point you are trying to make is better retained. Can this be accomplished in just one sentence? YES!
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What do Beyonce, Freddie Mercury and Christine Lagarde have in common? At first blush, not much...
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The gymnast, Simone Biles, has often been called the GOAT (greatest of all time). Her...
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We all have something to teach, and we all have something to learn. I treasure the teachers in my...
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On a call this week with a not-for-profit organization I work with we discussed everything from...
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Everyone loves a good story. Stories are what anchor your listeners to the main point you want them to remember. A technique that is often used to craft compelling stories is what is called “The Hero’s Journey”. It is an archetypal story pattern, common in ancient myths as well as modern-day adventures.
In essence, it includes three stages:
Departure: The Hero leaves the familiar world behind.
Initiation: The Hero learns to navigate the unfamiliar world of challenge and adventure.
Return: The Hero returns to the familiar world in victory to share the lessons learned.
Over the holiday break, I found myself watching an episode of the Netflix series: 7 Days Out which tracks seven days leading up to some of the world’s biggest events. As a native of Louisville, KY. I decided to tune into the episode on the Kentucky Derby. While I am very familiar with all the pomp and circumstance connected to the Derby, I learned something new.
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Have you ever struggled with identifying what unique qualities and characteristics you bring to...
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In the world of work, we often are called upon to report project updates, milestones and progress...
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How to lead and influence through expression “Smiling stimulates our brain’s reward mechanisms in...
Read MoreI am admittedly a speech nerd and as such I watched just about every speech at both the RNC and DNC forums. While doing my own analysis I was struck by something that NY Times columnist and PBS commentator, David Brooks said. He remarked that at the conventions he found that speakers generally fit into one of three categories:
Read MoreWhen we go to the theatre and see actors on the stage communicating a story we get wrapped-up in the action and forget that the lines that are spoken are scripted and the movement on stage is choreographed. If the production and talent are good it all looks and feels organic and yet it was orchestrated well in advance.
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