The spring of university commencement ceremonies wraps up this week, ending (according to this website) with an address from legendary soprano Renee Fleming across town at Northwestern’s graduation on the 22nd.

Sometimes presenters have trouble figuring out what to do with their hands. It can happen to the best of us.

Did you wake up early to watch any of the royal wedding for Harry and Meghan?

We’ve been working recently with a number of individuals who tell us they are more likely to give a presentation while seated around a conference table rather than standing. When participating in our seminars, they ask: how is it different to present from a seated position?

In many of our workshops, we include a “Controlling Q&A” exercise that allows our clients to practice facilitating this critical part of a presentation.

A character from a literary classic helps clarify why so many speakers struggle to engage their audiences—because they insist on using aloof-sounding voices that seem inauthentic and overly presentational. Take it from the pages of J.D. Salinger: just be yourself.

What’s the most important thing to do after wrapping up a successful project or campaign with a client? Let them know, as directly as possible, that you’d like to continue your work for them. Here a few thoughts on how to plan your approach.

There were at least two memorable moments in the world of public speaking this month that occurred within 48 hours of each other, one on the East Coast and one on the West Coast. Both speakers took big risks to get their message across, and those risks made their speeches particularly memorable.

One thing we know about the NCAA Basketball Tourney: many of the games will come down to making a single free throw. An active, back-and-forth game pauses for a critical moment of silence and standing still. That magical moment in time should be a reminder to presenters that effective pauses can make all the difference.

We usually encourage our clients to ditch the prepared text when giving speeches. In our experience, most presenters do a better job of engaging their audience when they prepare well, then trust their knowledge and leave the notes behind.