by Guila Muir info@guilamuir.com How is Public Speaking Like Open Water Swimming?
Blog Posts to Boost Your Skills
The Power of the HOOK
by Guila Muir info@guilamuir.com Capturing Your Audience in the First 30 Seconds What’s wrong with these pictures? 1. Helen begins her presentation by introducing herself and telling the participants at some length how happy she is to be with them. She then launches into her content. 2. Bill kicks off his training session by explaining …
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The “Tuned-In” Facilitator: When and How to Intervene
Picture this: You’re running a regular, non-eventful meeting when… Scenario One: Suddenly, as if some invisible button has been pushed, unexpected emotion erupts from the group. Or…Scenario Two: You suddenly sense a strong feeling of resistance from the group. No one says anything about it, but you can’t shake your own awareness of “push-back.” Or…Scenario …
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How to Help Adults Learn Best
Three Keys to Help Them Stretch! Here’s something for you to try. (C’mon, I’ll wait for you to get out of your chair!) Stand up and stretch your right arm out behind you, as far as it will go. (You may turn your body as you do so.) Now, come back to center and relax …
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Games, Simulations, and Roleplays: Do Differences Matter?
Which would you choose…and when? Long ago, I discovered I loved experiential learning and wanted to learn more about simulations. As a trainer in 1981 Thailand, I experienced the famous “Ba-Fa-Ba-Fa” cultural simulation. It blew me away! Years later, with great hopes, I attended an ASTD-sponsored workshop called Experience Simulations. To my disappointment, the workshop …
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All Presenting is Persuasive
Don’t Do a Data Dump! After stumbling a bit, most presenters are able to name the purpose of any presentation they might give. However, most really stumble when asked if their presentations are meant to persuade anyone of anything.The answer, 99% of the time, is YES. And yet most presenters don’t realize it. As a …
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Five Tips to Present Like a Pro
How to Rise Above the Crowd Over the last five years, I’ve noticed a dramatic change in the field of presentation skills. Increasingly, experts support the idea that being a “good enough” speaker is no longer “good enough.” Mere competency as a speaker is no longer enough to sell your ideas, bring communities together, or …
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So You’ve Been Selected
6 Tips for Conference Presenters “Someone’s got to do something, and it’s just incredibly pitiful that it has to be us.” — Jerry Garcia Some are chosen, some are forced…but in the end, most business professionals present at industry conferences, annual meetings, or other events during the course of their careers. Please allow me to …
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Speakers’ Top 3 Fears… and How to Prevent Them!
Avoid the worst-feared pitfalls of public speaking. Will you be giving a presentation or seminar soon? Many professionals choke up when they begin picturing all that “could go wrong!” To avoid the worst-feared pitfalls of public speaking, you must start with oxygen. Fritz Perls said, “Fear is excitement without the breath.” Breathe! Then, accept and …
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Presentation is Not Training
by Guila Muir info@guilamuir.com How Easy Training Strategies Can Help Make Your Presentations “Stick!”