What’s the best way to hold your audience’s attention? By telling stories, preferably ones that relate to your topic.

Admit it. Sometimes while listening to someone speak, you lose focus and your attention wanders. No matter how engaging the speaker is, you start to think about picking up your kids, navigating construction to get home in time for dinner, or who will be pitching for your team this weekend.

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.