Speaking Strengths™
Be an All-Star: Speak from your Strengths
Every speaker has strengths. In fact, we’ve identified ten top Speaking Strengths™ in our work with executives and leaders. Read the full list.
Insights
Tips, advice and insights for executives and leaders about how to elevate their speaking skills, including presentation skills, media skills, and public speaking skills. In the boardroom, at the roundtable, or in the media, what you say and how you say it will have a big impact on your success. Judy Grant shares insights garnered from decades of experience as a TV anchor, reporter and producer and as a professional media and presentation coach working with C-suite executives, celebrities and leaders. She uses examples from popular culture, news and events, and personal stories to illustrate the power and impact of good (and bad) speaking skills. Her passion is to help people to raise their voices and change the world.
Speaking Strengths™
Speaking Strengths™
Do you speak with Clarity?
When addressing an audience, do you make your point simply? Are you unambiguous? Concise? If so, one of your Speaking Strengths™ is “Clarity.” Speaking Strength: Clarity - Unambiguous, concise Speaking with…
Speaking Strengths™
Do you speak with Command?
"Command” is one of the top ten Speaking Strengths™ we have identified in our work with executives and leaders. Read about all ten Speaking Strengths.
Speaking Strengths™
Speaking Hiccups
If you do enough public speaking, whether in front of an audience or a TV camera, you’re bound to run into some unpredictable glitch.
Presentation skills
Presentation skills
Connect with your audience
As you prepare for your next important meeting, consider how you will connect with your audience. By doing so, you will earn the audience’s attention and be afforded the opportunity to influence them.
Presentation skills
Do you dread impromptu speaking?
I was speaking with a client this morning who told me his boss was a superb speaker. In fact, he said, there are times it makes him jealous.
Presentation skills
How to tell a good story
If you have been mesmerized by a public speaker, chances are good they were not standing at a podium and rattling off the latest sales figures. It’s more likely they were using the power of story.
Presentation skills
Jargon is Junk
I was reminded of a wonderful and amusing blog post I read late last year by Dan Pallotta (@danpallotta). It was published in his Harvard Business Review blog and was titled “I Don’t Understand What Anyone is…
Presentation skills
Speaking Tip: Reception is crucial in football and in speaking!
Reception. It's crucial in football and in speaking. When the quarterback passes the football, the goal is for the ball to be received. The same is true when you speak.
Presentation skills
Speaking Tip: Your mother was right
“Speak up!”, “Don’t mumble!”. Did you hear these words when you were growing up? If so, your mother was right. Poor enunciation and projection render otherwise good communication ineffective.
Presentation skills
When Mistakes are Good
For many executives, the fear of mistakes and the fear of public speaking are a one-two punch to their performance. But, as Daniel Coyle explains in his book, The Talent Code, mistakes help us learn.
Presentation skills
“Yeah, but…”
I was at a party recently chatting with a small group of people when a new person entered the group, listened for a moment and then said “yeah, but…” As you might imagine, the group was ever-so-slightly put…
Media and video
Media and video
Are you giving a “Best Picture” performance?
Are you giving a “Best Picture” performance? The Academy Award-winning silent-era-style movie, The Artist, truly underscores that powerful movements and expressions create impact.
Media and video
Executives - Get Ready for Video
More and more executives are inquiring about training for video presentations. Organizations are using YouTube, video interviews, webcasts and website videos to reach a wide audience with key company messages…
Media and video
Lookin’ Good on Video Conference Calls
Video conferencing has become ubiquitous in both the workplace and at home. Services like GoToMeeting, Webex, Vidyo, Facetime and Skype used with a webcam, tablet or Smartphone make it inexpensive and easy to…
Media and video
Virtual Communication
A growing challenge in communications today is the demand for executives to communicate virtually via conference call, webcast or by phone. Remote communication tools have replaced many in-person meetings.
Nerves and voice
Nerves and voice
Alleviate Anxiety Tip #1: Energize your brain
This is the first post in a three-part series focused on helping you alleviate anxiety before giving a presentation. Many people suffer from fear and anxiety about speaking in front of groups.
Nerves and voice
Alleviate Anxiety Tip #2: Support your Voice
This is the second post in a three-part series focused on helping you alleviate anxiety before giving a presentation. Many people suffer from fear and anxiety about speaking in front of groups.
Nerves and voice
Alleviate Anxiety Tip #3: Breathe
When clients tell me they feel anxious prior to their remarks, or, as they jump into the opening of remarks, or, the need to rush “to get all the material” covered, I ask them about their breathing.
Nerves and voice
Anxiety Impedes Peak Performance
How is speaking before a group like being a world-class swimmer? The performance of both can be impaired by worry and anxiety.
Nerves and voice
Fast delivery can mean fast failure
In our busy, fast-paced world we are at risk to accelerate everything – including our communications. Unfortunately, fast delivery can mean fast failure.
Nerves and voice
Rapid Speak is a Liability
“Rapid Speak” gets a lot of people in trouble. What is rapid speak? Speaking uncomfortably fast for the listener. A number of years ago, FedEx ran a famous, amusing commercial that illustrates the tension…
Leadership communication
Leadership communication
Books to Expand Your View of Leadership
Reading can expand our minds and change our view of the world. Here is a list of interesting and engrossing books that will challenge your view of leadership.
Leadership communication
Do you want to become leadership material?
In our global economy -- as collaboration is required and diversity increases – we know that communication is one of the most important skills in the workplace.
Leadership communication
Managing Interruptions and Managing to Interrupt
Like modern life, meetings, conversations, and public speaking often are full of interruptions. How do you keep from being interrupted? How can you politely interrupt when you need to be heard?
Leadership communication
Speak Often - It's good for business, great for your career
Sharing your experience and expertise with industry peers is good for business and great for your career. Each year thousands of trade shows and conferences are held covering virtually every topic, industry…
Leadership communication
Top 7 "Good Reads" for Communicators
As you might imagine, I’ve read dozens and dozens of books on communications. Here’s my short-list of “good reads.” None is new.
Free guides
Free guides
Secrets of Successful Video: Top Ten Pitfalls and How to Overcome Them
Now you're ready for showtime!
Free guides
Speaking Strengths
Caring and concern about your content or audience is evident as you speak. Your heartfelt delivery connects you to the heart of your listener and they feel the significance of what you are saying.
Free guides
Vocal Warm Ups
Poor enunciation and projection renders otherwise good communication ineffective. When you speak, you want to be heard, literally.