Do you sometimes feel guilty about day-dreaming? You know how it happens: you are sitting at your work station, but you are looking out the window and your mind is on a beach, or a mountain top, or simply counting clouds.

Suddenly a bossy little...

100 days, and our world has changed. 100 days ago we had no idea what was about to engulf us.

So much has happened in such a rush lately, it’s hard to believe it’s only 100 days since the first person fell ill with what we now call...

Clarity, transparency, openness, responsiveness. Four qualities essential for effective communications during a crisis.  We’ve been looking at how three countries’ responses to the Covid-19 pandemic stack up against those...

John Prine has died of complications from Covid-19. He was a masterful singer-songwriter, with a remarkable ability to make you laugh one moment and rip your heart out the next. I mention him because he possessed a very distinct...

If you are not ready to watch the video at the moment, here's the script:

We are all experiencing a new 'normal' as we deal with the Covid-19 virus. I want to share a couple of thoughts and suggestions.

First of all take care of yourself and your...

Your success as a speaker depends in large measure on your skills as a listener.

‘What? I’m the speaker. I’m talking to the audience. They’re listening to me. What am I supposed to be listening to?’

Oh, there’s...

Many speakers dream of the chance to give a TED talk, standing in front of an audience of 1400, following in the footsteps of such acclaimed performers as Sir Ken Robinson and Jill Bolte Taylor.

Chris Anderson, the CEO of TED, says he thinks of a...

Our courses and books and blogs are full of great advice for improving your speeches and presentations: tell more stories, use more pauses, be more conversational, make strong eye contact, don’t overload slides with text.

But please...

Are you rehearsing the authenticity out of your presentations? Dr Nick Morgan, a preeminent communications coach and occasional contributor to this blog, thinks it’s possible.

Nick tells the story of Carol, VP of sales, tasked with inspiring...

A lot of the words we fall back on when we’re making a presentation or speech, especially if we feel under pressure, don’t actually serve any useful purpose. In fact they are obstacles to understanding and barriers to engagement.

What...

If you are called on to make many speeches or presentations, we have some great food-for-thought for you from a speech by singer/songwriter, author and social media activist Dave Carroll.

Dave, the guy who had that viral blockbuster United...

If you were drowning, you’d shout ’Help’.

You’re unlikely to say ‘Your assistance is required due to my imperiled state’.

Yet, often, we send bunches of words to do what one could achieve: have a meeting...