On this blog where we only talk about storytelling, communications, presentations, speeches, talks, influence and more – the only appropriate post for today is MLK’s I Have a Dream speech. No one until that moment or after has delivered a more significant, consequential and memorable talk. Arguably the most important vision talk ever communicated.
I am hoping by now that everyone knows WHAT “storytelling” does for influencing and persuading audiences and WHY it works. Without citing any of the brain science that has been widely reported, it most simply triggers us to connect with what we don’t yet know and care about, with things we do know and care about. I spent […]
Happy New Year! If you’re looking for top tips for public speaking and executive communications, this post is for you. we’ve rounded up our most popular articles from 2018.
Our fourth quarter was a super interesting one, just like the first three of 2018. In short, it was a great year. In fact, our best ever. Thanks to all of our clients who trusted us to help them improve their TED-style presentations, storytelling competency and public speaking impact. While we coached and trained executives […]
For the UXDX Conference in Ireland in 2019, I was invited to answer 10 questions about how to begin to get prepared to give a killer presentation. Okay, truth, there were 11 questions, but I skipped one. So here are my 10 answers in one, 10-minute, continuous video response (unedited at the request of the […]
Three public speaking tips from executive communication coach Acacia Duncan that can help you hone in on your one idea for a successful TED-style talk.
Our speech coaching practice rests on iterating: Helping clients crank a reluctant wheel from event invite to idea to proof to story to imagery to delivery to reflection – and then starting all over again.
You could call it the TED talk effect. We have come to expect people to share complicated, technical, even scientific and medical concepts in an accessible way. One key area of change that organizations want is a culture that embodies communicating ideas in short, impactful talks. But, changing the culture and norms of an organization […]
As TEDxColumbus marks its 10th anniversary, let’s memorialize the culture of support that TEDxColumbus has created for the speakers to deliver such consequential and memorable talks.
To celebrate 10 years of TEDxColumbus, I present to you the ideas we’ve hosted on the stage. Curating and coaching most of these talks has been one of the most challenging, rewarding and memorable jobs I’ve ever tackled. Nearly every speaker always reflects about how much they got out of giving their talk – but […]
When working on any skill, especially one that has to do with public speaking, it helps to remember the four stages of learning that can lead to public speaking mastery.
Time flies when you’re having fun. It’s hard to believe our Talk Like Someone’s Listening video series has already come to a close. The series included nine videos that took a humorous look at some less than desirable speaking habits. They made us smile, nod our heads, wince a bit, and yes, laugh out loud! […]
To shape a culture where the complex messages truly resonate in clear and concise ways, it hinges on one thing: feedback.
Don’t bog down your message. To present a compelling presentation, public speakers should start with “why” the audience should care, and simply get to the point.
I remember back in elementary school, lining up in gym, tensing all my muscles, just waiting for the teacher to yell, “GREEN LIGHT!” I’d take off as fast as I could trying to cover as much distance as I could before I heard “RED LIGHT!” I hated the red light. I just wanted to run. […]