Client LoginWe often hear that we live in an ‘age of distraction.’ And if you’re like me, it’s easy to think that it’s the OTHER person who has the problem…they’re the ones (often the younger ones) who can’t focus…right? But how easily are you distracted? And how easily do you think your AUDIENCE is distracted? While […]
The best trick for natural delivery? Marking your script
You have the structure. You have the words. But a great talk goes way beyond words. In a recent study, the ratings for the most popular TED talks were the same whether the viewers watched with or without the sound on. Why? Because the speakers were able to convey meaning with everything else at their […]
This Week in Insights: Week of September 7
ON THE COMMUNICATION SKILLS BLOG: Eli Murphy deconstructs Nilofer Merchant’s TED Talk, “Got a Meeting? Take a Walk,” and talks about the power of a problem-based opening statement. FROM OUR TWITTER AND LINKEDIN FEEDS What’s one simple technique to make your talks better? The Epiphora. The mysterious origins of punctuation. 13 stats that should terrify […]
DeconstrucTED: Nilofer Merchant’s “Got a Meeting? Take a Walk.”
In our “DeconstrucTED” series, we look at some of our favorite TED and TED-style talks. We deconstruct them to demonstrate how we all can be more effective communicators in our own right. This week, Oratium’s Eli Murphy shares why Nilofer Merchant’s 2013 TED talk is one to remember. Q: Nilofer opens with a pretty bold […]
This Week in Insights: Week of August 17
ON THE COMMUNICATION SKILLS BLOG: Tim Pollard shares how to slim down your presentation…and still have all the detail you could ever need. FROM OUR TWITTER AND LINKEDIN FEEDS PR pro, entrepreneur, author, and keynote speaker Peter Shankman tells you how to send an email and guarantee it will be read The One Trait That […]
This Week in Insights: Week of August 10
ON THE COMMUNICATION SKILLS BLOG: Thinking of banning PowerPoint (or any slides) at your company? Eli Murphy discusses why banning PowerPoint doesn’t solve the real problem. FROM OUR TWITTER AND LINKEDIN FEEDS Scientists now combine light and sound to reveal the brain 15 meeting etiquette rules every professional needs to know [infographic] For the #SwipeFile: […]
Switzerland…. Not so neutral on PowerPoint
Leave it to the Swiss…. There is an organization there advocating for a referendum prohibiting the use of PowerPoint during presentations. And they claim to be the 8th largest political party in Switzerland. Seriously. This puts them right behind the Evangelical Peoples Party (and given the anti-PowerPoint rhetoric on their site, I would argue they […]
This Week in Insights: Week of August 3
On the Communication Skills Blog: Tim Pollard reveals the beating heart of sales messaging. From Our Twitter and LinkedIn Feeds Can imagination be measured? A mathematical algorithm for discovering new things The 12 cognitive biases that prevent you from being rational [An old, but good, list]. 3 Lessons IBM’s Watson can teach us about our brains’ […]
This Week in Insights: Week of July 27
“This Week in Insights” is our weekly recap of interesting and useful posts, articles, links, and other resources. On The Communication Skills Blog: Eli Murphy gives an easy way to remember anyone’s name. From our Twitter and LinkedIn Feeds: Making Learning Visible: Doodling Helps Memories Stick 4 Stealable Ways Great Public Speakers Make Sure You Remember […]
The easiest way to remember names…and any presentation
Has this happened to you? You’re at a cocktail party and are introduced to someone for the first time. You have a brief but interesting conversation…only to realize later that you have no idea what the person’s name is? Or maybe you’re in a business meeting: there are a few new faces at the table, […]
