Every time a speaker stands before an audience…

Control becomes confidence.

Several years ago, I was working with Susie, the brand manager at a luxury automotive manufacturer. She was preparing for her speaking opportunity at an international dealer meeting. It was going to be her first high-stakes speech in the spotlight, with very big implications for the company, her team and her career. She was excited.…

Read More

Facts become feelings; feelings become beliefs.

Few people consider a business presentation to be an emotional experience. Yet, every communication opportunity engages the entire person -- quirks, passions and questions. As an executive partner at a global research and advisory firm, Michael was a seasoned presenter, regularly engaging his C-Suite customers. Unfortunately, endless slide decks filled with complex data was the…

Read More

Communication fuels a culture.

When Harry Moseley “failed at retirement” and instead became the Global CIO of a pre-IPO Zoom Video Communications, he began a quest to share his beliefs about the company and its vision to audiences around the world. Known for his past achievements as a world-renowned business executive, and lauded for his contributions on not-for-profit boards,…

Read More

What becomes why.

Marc presented like a typical manager at his global software company. As the knowing expert, he gave detailed “what” answers while audiences wondered about the “why.” Among friends, he was an entertainer who kept everyone laughing with great stories, but when he tried to integrate some humor into his presentations, his punchlines drew only blank…

Read More

Transactions become transformations.

If you look closely, all and any of our stories weave together. For Ankur, a TEDxPaloAlto speaker I coached, three childhood models led to a profound impact on the lives of 38 people he would meet 20 years later. His grandmother’s insistence to be relevant, his father’s big dreams and perseverance, and his mother’s empathy…

Read More