Category Archives:
Leadership Development Training
May 21, 2009
Storytelling Training – Take Your Stories Seriously
I recently spoke to the Central Indiana Chapter of ASTD on the use of storytelling for trainers using my Story Theater Method. In addition to illustrating how the Story Theater Method works by telling my Dagger Lady Story, I coached two volunteers on their stories. The feedback I received from the 85 trainers in attendance […]
February 18, 2009
How to Write an Inspiring Speech
Do you want to inspire people? Do you have a burning desire to share your life experiences and tell your stories so that other people can benefit? If so, there are a number of things to consider when writing an inspiring speech.
November 22, 2008
Brand Your Speech with a Phrase That Pays
After you’re finished making a presentation and you leave the room, what sticks? What did you say or do that was memorable? As Karen Post, the Branding Diva, says, “Many of us operate in a space where many others offer a similar product or service. If you want to stand out, you have got to […]
March 4, 2008
Conquer Nervousness: To Smile or Not To Smile
One of the most common mistakes speakers make is to plaster a smile on their face and keep it there, regardless of what they’re saying. This is as true for my public speaking students as it is for my corporate storytelling students. I encountered this situation twice in the last month. One was in a […]
January 18, 2008
Presentation Skills: The Dynamite Speech System
The Dynamite Speech System is a comprehensive approach to crafting a speech that inspires, motivates and teaches. If you ever wondered how professional speakers write and deliver speeches that are as impressive for their elegant design as for their inspiring delivery, this system will give you the answers. http://www.storytheater.net/dynamite.asp
August 27, 2007
What is Motivational Speaking – Part Three
Ted Liss was my acting teacher in Chicago back in 1969. Once a week for 2 ½ years I attended his acting class in a smoke-filled room that smelled like coffee and pulsated with the tensions of youth. His acting studio was small and tightly packed with a variety of young adults in their twenties […]
August 6, 2007
What is Motivational Speaking – Part Two
In this article, I’ll discuss three critical components of motivational speaking. These three components also apply to leadership. The best motivational speakers challenge their audience members to think and act. They take ideas and principles, develop them in new and creative ways and deliver them with passion. The best leaders challenge their employees/direct reports/audience members […]
July 2, 2007
What Exactly is Motivational Speaking? Part One.
I’ve been giving speeches for 18 years now. After hundreds of speeches in front of all kinds of audiences large and small, I made a shift: I stopped focusing on content and started focusing on meaning.
