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.
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.
[Video] Death by Bullet Point
More is NOT always better. For years (and years, and years) one of the most common complaints about presentations has been bullet-ridden and text heavy
That’s all the time we have.
If audiences want short talks, why is it still so hard for speakers to oblige them? Here are three strategies we use when helping speakers to be more (much much more) concise.
[Video] Watch the Clock
While we admire the endurance of marathon runners and other long-distance athletes, the same can’t be said for speakers and presenters. When it’s time to
The Power of Breath
I am passionate about the power of breath. It not only makes for good public speaking, but it also helps a person feel grounded and confident in any area of life. Allow me to share a three quick tips to harness the power of your own breath.
They Want the Teddy Bear, Not the Stuffing
Are you trying to sell the teddy bear… or the stuffing? See Ruth Milligan’s presentation to Columbus’ Web Analytics Wednesdays group to appreciate the relevant metaphor shared with her by an analytics client and her top list of components to assure a complicated, complex topic gets understood by their audience.
[VIDEO] Short Words, Big Impact
Step away from the thesaurus. Forget the jargon, too. To engage your audience as a reputable speaker, be relatable instead. Small words can make a big impact in your presentation.
The Idea Reigns Supreme
Once a year, we enjoy an exhausting, exhilarating, thought-provoking discussion to identify the speakers for TEDxColumbus. What the discussions demonstrates is the commitment to identifying ideas worth spreading.
[Video] Take a Breath, or 10
As coaches, we’ve seen it a thousand times before. Speed talker syndrome. Sometimes it happens when a speaker is excited or just plain nervous. Other times it’s the guy who tries to fit 38 minutes of content into a 7-minute presentation. To increase your credibility and make a better impression, slow it down. Take a breath, or 10.
Transform Your Internal Conversation into a Presentation
So, are your presentations for your audience or yourself? Are they thoughtfully planned stories with which your audience can relate? Convert your conversation into a presentation.
[Video] The Joke Will Be On You
Use too much humor in your speech? The joke will be on you. Watch the latest episode of Talk Like Someone’s Listening to learn how to engage your audience without losing credibility.
Get Better Results When You Use These Tips for Speaker Feedback
Provide more value to speakers when you deliver actionable feedback using these four tips from Coach Acacia Duncan.
A Standout Second Quarter
It’s safe to conclude that when a client “wins,” we win too. In the spirit of transparency, let’s look at where those win were for
Videos
Our videos offer a glimpse of several of our coaches — as well as insights into our methods. And you can find more of our videos on our YouTube channel.
Ruth's Tips
FEATURED CLIENT TALKS:
The Ohio State University, Wexner Medical Center, WexMed Live
The Ohio State University, Masterminds
Nationwide Children’s Hospital, DiscoveryX
TEDxChicago
Talks not publicly posted: Articulation has additionally coached talks at the following institutions and corporations: UnitedHealthcare, Ford, EcoLab, NetJets, Designers Brands/DSW, Miami University and University of Virginia.
Resource Toolbox
We go through lots of Magic Markers, Post-it Notes and handouts during our classes and coaching sessions. Aside from these basics, we rely on a set of readily available resources designed to be platform agnostic, intuitive and easy to work with. Take a moment to review the tools we’ll be using together.
Voice Memos
This voice recording app comes standard on all iPhones and is available for free for Android devices at the Google Play store. We use this app more than anything else to record practice sessions. We ask speakers to use it to share recorded versions of their talks. All files can be shared via text or email.
We use this tool to record all of our coaching calls. By using it, you’ll be able to listen to your call history and measure your progress over time.
This is our first choice for remote coaching sessions. If you’re used to working with Webex, that’s okay because we are, too. However, we find Zoom better suited to remote coaching and simplifying interaction online.
Power Point and Keynote
Speakers often use support slides in their presentations. But the slides — whether built in PowerPoint or Keynote — are less important than being able to record over them for practice, timing and sharing. That’s why we encourage clients to familiarize themselves with their preferred slide presentation software and its voice recording features. For more on recording with PowerPoint, visit Microsoft support. For Keynote recording help, go to Apple support.
Undoubtedly, this is the Cadillac presenter on the market. But once you understand its capabilities to help with timing and spotlighting, you’ll want one too.
Our most valuable tool is our Mac to HDMI adapter. Regardless of which computer you use, you’ll need the right HDMI cable to connect to our projector. You’ll find the one right for your computer on Amazon.
At-Home Recording Equipment List
Equipment suggestions for at-home video recordings. Download it now.
