Monthly Archive for December, 2009

On Saturdays, we survey the best public speaking articles from throughout the public speaking blogosphere.

This review features topics including:

• cross-culture communication;
• editing your presentation by asking “why?”;
• addressing the elephant in the room;
• pitfalls to presenting with someone else’s slides;
• the growth of Death By PowerPoint;
• how a video camera will help you improve as a speaker; and
• a must-read parody: How the Grinch Spoke at Christmas.

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As presenters, we know the importance of focusing on the information and emotional needs of our audience:

What is relevant to them?
What do they already know?
How do they feel about our topic?

When I recently spoke at two conferences in Africa, I discovered that there is another, more fundamental layer of audience needs to consider as well.

In this article, I will share the lessons I learned about basic communication issues when speaking to a culturally distinct audience.

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On Saturdays, we survey the best public speaking articles from throughout the public speaking blogosphere.

This review features topics including:

• new public speaking books;
• analysis of a contest-winning humorous speech;
• eye contact and facial expression tips;
• the case for white space;
• wardrobe tips; and
• comics that speakers are sure to enjoy.

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What do you do when you prefer not to use a lectern, but its use is implied by the nature of your speaking engagement?

Do you follow convention and stand behind it?

Or, do you go with your gut and break free?

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