Here’s where you’ll find insight into how we think and work, how we look and sound, and the tools we deploy to bring your goals to life. Our blog stretches way back, so you might want to peruse the list to see what strikes your interests or needs. Our videos offer a glimpse of several of our coaches — as well as insights into our methods. And when you do work with us, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with our Resource Toolbox to make working with us that much easier.
Blog
Our blog posts offer a rich gathering of insights, tips and suggestions designed to help you become more polished, more influential and more impactful in how you communicate with others. Skim to a title that strikes your interests or needs. And come back often because we are serious keeping it fresh and useful for storytellers everywhere.
The Art of the Pitch: Reflections on an Internal Pitch Competition
As Internal Pitch Competitions are become more popular, make sure to think of their benefits beyond the prize winnings. Our client engaged us to do just that and the results have been notable.
MLK and Storytelling: The Most Important Vision Talk Ever Communicated
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.
New Series: The Cultures of Storytelling
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
Our Top 8 Thought Leadership Articles of 2018
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.
Stepping out of the Lab: How to Translate Healthcare Insights for Your Audience
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
How to Give a Killer Presentation: 10 Questions from UXDX
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
How do you choose the one idea worth sharing in your speech?
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.
Coaching Speech Clients to Crank a Reluctant Wheel
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.
TED-style Talk Success: Leadership Matters
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
One Lesson from 10 years of TEDxColumbus
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.
TEDxColumbus: 10 Years of Ideas
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
Four Stages of Learning for Public Speaking Mastery
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.
Talk Like Someone’s Listening: Series Recap
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
The One Imperative for an Effective Communication Culture
To shape a culture where the complex messages truly resonate in clear and concise ways, it hinges on one thing: feedback.
[Video] Start with Why
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.
Make It About the Green, Not Red
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
[Video] They Want Answers, Not Questions
Ah, rhetorical questions. They are a favorite tool of public speakers. But are they useful? (Don’t answer that!) Rhetorical questions are asked not for the
This is One Time to Think Small
Your talk is only as good as someone’s ability to receive and understand it. When choosing words for your presentation, think small.
