December | 2014 | The Better Communicator Blog

How to stop using notes while presenting

by David Folkerson on December 27, 2014 , 2 comments

Are you a credible speaker? Not if you’re using notes, you aren’t. Let me tell why notes are bad, and how you can get rid of them.

Combat anxiety with the thermometer visualization technique

by David Folkerson on December 20, 2014 , No comments

I’m happy that I get anxious before delivering a big presentation. It means that I’m excited about what I’m about to do. But I don’t like feeling anxious. Too much anxiety can be crippling. I like to use what I call “the thermometer visualization technique” to help manage this kind of anxiety when speaking in public.

Opening, body, conclusion – a familiar structure that works

by David Folkerson on December 13, 2014 , No comments

Great oral presentations often follows the same structure as great written communication. As every essay-writing high school student knows, you lead with an introduction, elaborate your main points in the body, and summarize your argument in the conclusion. A well-developed oral presentation adheres to the same structure.

How to make better eye contact during presentations

by David Folkerson on December 7, 2014 , 2 comments

Just like a newborn baby whose eyes meet yours for the first time, your audience is looking for that same window into your soul. Don’t deny it to them – they are thirsty for information and they are going to be looking at you for access to it! Think of your eyes as a conduit, like a tractor beam, that can lock onto a person and draw her into your world, enveloping her in your message.