I’ve got a video treat for you, a down-and-dirty political smackdown (in speech form, of course) from the formidable Margaret Thatcher. This video is part of the series of Pop-Up Rhetoric vIdeos covering three famous political speeches and one debate which I analyzed in my book The Handy Communication Answer Book. One of the best ways to…
It might be summertime, but it’s as good a time as any to hone your skills of persuasion! I’m happy to bring to you the second of four videos in this special Pop-Up Rhetoric video series, featuring the speeches I analysed in my book The Handy Communication Answer Book. Ever wonder how to unite people…
Greetings, beautiful readers! I’ve been working on a great summer project for the past few weeks: a new series of Pop-Up Rhetoric videos based on the speech analyses I did for The Handy Communication Answer Book. Pop-Up Rhetoric is a fun look at the mechanics of speeches, advertisements, debates, and other public communication by flagging different…
Advance warning, dear reader, I’m indulging a desire to really geek out on some rhetoric here. I invite you to come along and get your word nerd on with me… I’m currently making a new series of Pop-Up Rhetoric videos (they aren’t released yet, but you can check out other Pop-Up Rhetoric videos on…
Guest post by Sam Eddy Watch most novice public speakers with a critical eye and I guarantee you will quickly be able to slice up sections of their speech into two categories: the funny bits and the serious bits. Good speeches balance humor with profound moments, and this balance can be hard for novice…
I have a secret for you: I don’t like flying. I don’t like the idea of being in a pressurized tube thousands of feet in the air, hurtling along at ungodly speeds. I don’t like being trapped in a confined space from which there is no escape. I don’t like turbulence. I really don’t…
When doing an activity that puts you in the spotlight, it seems a given that your personality will have a pretty significant factor in whether or not you enjoy it and how much effort it takes to succeed at it. When it comes to public speaking, most assume that extroverts are naturally more inclined…
Has anyone ever told you “don’t take this the wrong way, but…” Where did your head immediately go upon hearing that statement? I’m willing to bet is was not to a place of productive objectivity. Email seems to require the “don’t take this the wrong way” disclaimer more than any other form of communication. For…
This post is an excerpt from a project I’m currently working on: The Little Book of Big Confidence Here’s a pernicious myth about confidence: Confident people are dominant. Utter hogwash. It’s easy to think that dominance indicates confidence. After all, people who speak louder than others, or take up all the space, or…
Managers, business owners, and professionals of all stripes take note – there are killers lurking in your communications. They undermine your words, cast doubt on your trustworthiness, and make people question your judgement. They can create breakdowns in communication between team members, between departments, and most certainly between your business and your customers. The killers’…
