by Steve Adubato, PhD
There is a great Dilbert cartoon in which he is doing a PowerPoint presentation. He opens by saying, “This next transparency is an incomprehensible jumble of complexity and undefined acronyms.” He segues into, “You might wonder why I am going to show it to you since the only possible result is to lower your opinion of my communication skills.” He concludes by saying, “Frankly, it’s because I like making complex pictures more than I like you.”
by Steve Adubato, PhD
Imagine you are at a business conference or a seminar. The keynote speaker gets up to present. He starts out slowly with a soft voice and a bit of a monotone. About four or five minutes into the presentation he starts picking up some steam. He is more animated, passionate and really getting into the presentation. The problem is that his audience is long gone. In fact, most of them checked out in the first minute. The palm pilots are out, the blackberries are in full use, and the yawns are audible. What’s wrong with this picture and how could it have been avoided?
by Steve Adubato, PhD
One of the most important components of an effective presentation is the question and answer session. I am not a big fan of waiting until the “end” of your presentation before engaging in an interactive fashion with your audience. But for many, the Q&A format remains a staple in public speaking. So if you are going to do a Q&A, you might as well do it right. Consider some questions and some answers that should help.
by Steve Adubato, PhD
Recently a Star-Ledger editorial critiqued US Undersecretary of State Karen Hughes’ effort to improve America’s image in the Middle East. Ms. Hughes is an accomplished communications expert. However, in reference to a recent speech she made in the Middle East, the Star-Ledger editorial said, “Hughes seemed badly briefed…and diplomatically tone deaf when the occasion called for perfect pitch.”
by Steve Adubato, PhD
The case of “Where’s Page Ten?,” experienced early this month by US Senate candidate in New York Jeanine Pirro, provides a powerful lesson in the dangers of being too scripted for a public speech. Many professionals are convinced that in order to present, they must have a written text of every word carefully prepared when they must stand and deliver. Not so.
by Steve Adubato, PhD
Most of us have had to make a presentation as part of a larger meeting with other speakers. In most of these situations, the agenda is jam-packed. Too often meeting leaders confuse quantity with quality. Sometimes, one or more speakers will go over his or her allotted time, which in turn throws everyone and everything off.
by Steve Adubato, PhD
Linda Mercurio is a lawyer who has had extensive experience teaching many subjects including business. While Linda is an accomplished communicator, she is facing a tricky issue that raises this question;
“There are always people in meetings, conferences and public forums who don't seem to mind impromptu speaking at all, and yet oftentimes they are sadly ineffective. They ramble, monopolize the floor, and seem motivated solely by hearing their own voice. As a facilitator/moderator how does one politely yet firmly deal with such people and at the same time encourage those who might be more hesitant (but may add more value) to speak?”