Can everyone sing?
Who told Ronnie Drew, Shane McGowan, Tom Waits or Lisa O’Neill they could sing? They are not singers in the classical sense, but they can hold a tune and, more importantly, tell a story that engages an audience. Good communicators have all types of voices, accents and varying levels of education, yet you want to […]
You never know what’s around the corner!
Last week Jean and I enjoyed a wonderful holiday in Sorrento looking out over the Bay of Naples to the island of Capri. This week, we’re struggling to fight COVID-19; this is how life throws you curveballs. Last week, France was predicted to have a right-wing government. This week, they have completely changed; now, […]
Winning is Not Everything!
Recently, I was asked to help a team of students prepare a pitch important for them and their college. The college had previously entered this competition for several years but was never shortlisted to present at the final pitch competition. Initially, I helped the team and their professor prepare a video pitch to promote their […]
How do you prepare for a talk? A good start is half the battle!
It should not be the day before, and you should not be pulling out your previous slide deck, changing the title slide, or doing what you usually do, talk about your business or product. If you wish to be a memorable and successful communicator, you must continually read and listen to radio, TV and the […]
It’s Not About Your Body
Speakers and their advisors frequently put too much emphasis on body language. It’s not about your gestures, it’s what you have to say that matters. What do I do with my hands? Michael Martin, Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister), and Paschal Sheehy (Journalist) were both advised by a schoolteacher or presentation coach to continually tip the […]
Stop, Stop, Stop, Selling!
Recently, I turned up to hear how a group of customer-facing “Business Development Managers” (BDM’s) told the story of their business. What happened was as I expected. They immediately launched into what they do and the product/service they provide. Why do they do this? It’s where they’re comfortable and confident as product specialists. It’s what […]
Three Steps to Increased Sales
It requires a great deal of planning, effort, and cost to finally get the opportunity to talk to a prospective customer in person or online. In recent years, there’s been a reluctance on behalf of people to meet up. Online conversations have helped facilitate such meetings, but obviously, It’s never a replacement for face-to-face engagement. […]
Building a Business Requires Several Talents
A particular talent or skill is not enough today. To build a successful, durable business, you also need commercial understanding and a team to support you. Here is an excellent example I came across on my recent travels. There is an artist, Vera Gaffney, whose work I like, and I have given presents of her […]
The Rocky Road to Entertaining an Audience
I recently listened to Tommy Fleming speak about Christie Hennessy’s song “Roll back the Clouds” on a podcast. He talked about how important the song was to him, and also how it explained the drug of performing and how he and others like him were prepared to travel the world and be lonely lots of […]
Speakers – Focus on Connecting, not Perfecting
People are generally better educated and more worldly, thanks to the greater availability of third-level education and the opportunity to travel. Would you agree? Yet, employers still tell me there is a continuing reluctance on behalf of their employees to speak up in meetings or present on behalf of the organisation. This reluctance now also […]