Comments on: Lessons from a First Time Speaker

By: Ondrej Dyrka

Ondrej Dyrka — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 07:38:09 +0000

I used to be a great speaker on High School – no nerves, perfect articulation etc. My skills have however faded greatly when I decided I don’t need the approval of others to feel good.

By: Ari Herzog

Ari Herzog — Mon, 03 May 2010 14:03:41 +0000

Look at it this way: Is your presentation leashed to you, or are you leashed to your presentation? I’ve attended many seminars and workshops when technical difficulties caused the speaker to go off-the-cuff.

If you can’t speak about the content of your slides without using your slides, then you are leashed to it. I argue your slides should be leashed to you, so you can opt to remove the leash at any time and the audience will not know the difference.

By: Dawn Wentzell

Dawn Wentzell — Mon, 03 May 2010 13:48:09 +0000

Hmm… you’re getting awfully philosophical there…

It’s true, though. Presentations with fewer slides tend to be more engaging, although it takes a truly great, experienced speaker to do that.

By: Ari Herzog

Ari Herzog — Sat, 01 May 2010 07:03:14 +0000

The best presentations have zero slides. The second-best have 1-3 slides. More is less.

Besides, presentations have occurred for millennia so why be leashed to technology today?

By: Dawn Wentzell

Dawn Wentzell — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:19:42 +0000

Looking at people in the forhead – that’s brilliant! To them, it will look like you are making eye contact, but for you it will be less intimidating. I like it!

By: Dawn Wentzell

Dawn Wentzell — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:12:52 +0000

Ahh, two Alans! *confusion* Sorry, yes I meant Alan K’necht :)

By: Andrew@BloggingGuide

Andrew@BloggingGuide — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 10:55:07 +0000

I’ve heard once before that if you’re speaking infront of so many people to look them in the forehead rather than straight in the eye. Personally, I still prefer looking at them straight in the eye. And nervous is good, it is really not a bad thing. It keeps you alert, alive and perky.

By: Michael Martin

Michael Martin — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 07:46:24 +0000

Alan,

Dawn is referring to Alan K’necht who was there with me at her PubCon Dallas session.

By: Alan Bleiweiss

Alan Bleiweiss — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 07:00:00 +0000

hey don’t drag me into this. I wasnt even there. And there’s no way you knew that I was “thinking” about watching intently.

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:35:05 +0000

Classy. Why not reword it: When I get nervous, I assume that many of my potential clients are all assholes. Lisa Barone: I agree with this statement. Brilliant!