There is always a pile of magazines, newspaper and books on the floor beside my bed. In fact, this is what it looks like today. Most often, this pile consists of months of New Yorkers, dog-eared or opened to specific articles. In my recent recycling cleanse, I came...

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, not a second-rate version of someone else.” - Judy Garland I think I speak for most adults when I say that I wish for Bill Clinton’s charisma, Barack Obama’s oratory skills, and Oprah Winfrey’s ability to connect with...

During yesterday’s long shoveling ritual, I moved the heavy, sleet-drenched snow deposited in our driveway by the city plows and got to thinking about the weight of the snow I was carrying (and about the energy required to lift it over the now five-foot high snow...

While it may sound like an oxymoron, silence is a speaker's best friend. The well-placed pause, the active listening to a question from the audience, the five-second wait after you've posed a question - all gifts that a talented speaker takes full advantage of. Today...

I have not attended many classical dance performances, but I have seen ‘The Nutcracker’ a few times. I love dancing, but I do not enjoy the ballet (I thought Black Swan was creepy). I am a verbal, word loving, talk to me, sing to me, move me with your music kinda gal....

You can see it in your mind’s eye:  the rapt attention of your audience; commanding the physical space like a sensei; technology working seamlessly - including state-of-the art audio.  At the end you receive vigorous applause from the crowd, which is well-deserved...

At our town's annual community celebration of the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, I listened to our mayor, our congressman, our school super, three students, a rabbi and a pastor speak.  It is an uplifting and wonderful event, especially the voices of the...

When I'm not coaching professionals to deliver dynamic presentations, I teach leadership communication at the Wharton School of Business.  Every semester, before the big speech assignment, someone will ask,  "Can I hold my notes?"  My answer is always the same:  "I...

"The opposite of talking isn't listening. The opposite of talking is waiting." - Fran Lebowitz Smart is great. Funny is better.  Smart and funny….well, now I am hooked. There we are in conversation, someone is talking and we experience the rush of an idea and maybe we...

Recently I gave a presentation to a group of 40 people at a statewide conference.  A few minutes before the official start time I noticed that all the seats were filled so I asked the audience if I could start early.  All were in favor.  Why did I want to start...

The title of this wonderful movie is a double entendre addressing both the serious stutter of King George VI and the world-altering speech he must give declaring England's war against Hitler.  It is a rich film and a compelling story - witty, deep, beautifully acted...

I was leafing through a book focusing on the link between deep breathing and overall health when I came upon a section featuring a Swami who had been practicing yoga and meditation for decades.  He was offering advice on how to sit in meditation to become aware of...

“He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help.” - Abraham Lincoln Our last post dealt with the most effective ways to give feedback. Now we want to share our tips for how to receive feedback in order to improve your skills as a public speaker.  First, I...

I believe that one of the greatest benefits of our group workshops is the feedback loop. This is where people give real and specific comments about your presentation, addressing everything from eye contact, vocal tone, body language, content, and often issues that...

 Despite the stack of books at my bedside, I hit a; "I have nothing to read" moment last week. In a surprising turn of practicality, I decided to explore the library in my own home. I landed on blink, by Malcolm Gladwell.  What a pleasure to revisit. I expect to mine...