Presentation Skills Development

Ever notice how some leaders seem to have a sixth sense for meeting dynamics while others plow through their agenda oblivious to glazed eyes, side conversations, or everyone needing several "bio breaks" over the course of an hour? Research tells us executives consider 67% of virtual meetings failures, and a staggering 92% of employees admit to multitasking during meetings. After facilitating hundreds of in-person, virtual, and hybrid sessions, I've developed my "6 E's Framework" to transform the abstract concept of "reading the room" into concrete skills anyone can master. (This is exactly what I teach leaders and teams who want to dramatically improve their meeting and presentation effectiveness.) Here's what to look for and what to do: 1. Eye Contact: Notice where people are looking (or not looking). Are they making eye contact with you or staring at their devices? Position yourself strategically, be inclusive with your gaze, and respectfully acknowledge what you observe: "I notice several people checking watches, so I'll pick up the pace." 2. Energy: Feel the vibe - is it friendly, tense, distracted? Conduct quick energy check-ins ("On a scale of 1-10, what's your energy right now?"), pivot to more engaging topics when needed, and don't hesitate to amplify your own energy through voice modulation and expressive gestures. 3. Expectations: Regularly check if you're delivering what people expected. Start with clear objectives, check in throughout ("Am I addressing what you hoped we'd cover?"), and make progress visible by acknowledging completed agenda items. 4. Extraneous Activities: What are people doing besides paying attention? Get curious about side conversations without defensiveness: "I see some of you discussing something - I'd love to address those thoughts." Break up presentations with interactive elements like polls or small group discussions. 5. Explicit Feedback: Listen when someone directly tells you "we're confused" or "this is exactly what we needed." Remember, one vocal participant often represents others' unspoken feelings. Thank people for honest feedback and actively solicit input from quieter participants. 6. Engagement: Monitor who's participating and how. Create varied opportunities for people to engage with you, the content, and each other. Proactively invite (but don't force) participation from those less likely to speak up. I've shared my complete framework in the article in the comments below. In my coaching and workshops with executives and teams worldwide, I've seen these skills transform even the most dysfunctional meeting cultures -- and I'd be thrilled to help your company's speakers and meeting leaders, too. What meeting dynamics challenge do you find most difficult to navigate? I'd love to hear your experiences in the comments! #presentationskills #virualmeetings #engagement

Dear son, Remember when you texted me after your big product pitch? "Mom, I nailed that presentation but no one said ANYTHING afterward. The VP just thanked me and moved on to the next agenda item. What did I do wrong?" First, take a deep breath. This happens to everyone—even seasoned executives with decades of experience. But I need to be brutally honest with you: silence isn't respect or agreement. It's resistance, fear, apathy or confusion. Why They're Really Silent🤫 1️⃣They completely disagree but don't want to embarrass you (or themselves) with a public confrontation 2️⃣They don't understand what you're asking them to do or approve 3️⃣They don't care enough about your proposal to engage with it The mistake most professionals make is interpreting silence as contemplation or agreement. They walk away thinking, "Well, no objections!" only to discover weeks later their proposal died a quiet death. The 3-Step Recovery Plan💪 1️⃣Break the Silence Yourself Don't just stand there awkwardly or retreat to your seat. Instead, say: "I notice we're a bit quiet. I'd value some initial reactions to help me understand if I'm addressing our most pressing priorities." This gives them permission to speak honestly without forcing confrontation. 2️⃣Ask a Specific Question Don't ask, "Any questions?" that's easy to decline. Instead, ask a question that reveals concerns while giving you control: "Which part of this proposal do you feel needs the most refinement before moving forward?" This question assumes they're on board with the general direction (even if they're not) but gives them an opening to voice concerns constructively. 3️⃣Schedule Individual Follow-ups Say: "I know everyone needs time to process. I'd like to schedule 15 minutes with each of you over the next few days to gather your thoughts once you've had time to consider this approach." Then—this is crucial—immediately send those calendar invites. Most objections surface in these one-on-ones that would never come up in the group setting. This is where you'll discover the real roadblocks. What I've Learned the Hard Way✨ The worst thing you can do after silence is nothing. The second worst is sending a cheerful follow-up email saying, "As discussed in the meeting, we'll proceed with..." Nothing was "discussed." That's the problem. When I was younger, I once gave what I thought was a brilliant presentation about a new training program. The room was silent afterward. I took it as approval and spent three months developing materials before discovering the executive team never intended to fund it. They just didn't want to crush my enthusiasm at that moment. That taught me that silence is not golden—it's a warning. Remember This Always👈 Your presentation isn't over when the last slide appears. The most successful leaders understand that this is where decisions actually get made. I'm so proud of how you're navigating these complex workplace dynamics.    Love you always, Mom

Here are three different ways I’ve opened a talk at a Sales Kickoff: Intro 1: “Hi, I’m Josh Braun, a sales trainer from Boca Raton, Florida.” Intro 2: “I once cold emailed 27 people at the same company and got blacklisted. Today I’m going to show you how to avoid my mistakes and what to do instead.” Intro 3: “I want to start by offering you a sales superpower. And all it requires is this: that you change your intent when selling. But before I give it away, I want you to audit your mind. Here’s the scenario…” What do you notice? Same speaker. Different intros. Different impact. The first introduces. The second builds curiosity. The third creates tension and pulls you in. How you start sets the tone for everything that follows. How do you like to start a talk?

Overcome your fear of public speaking. 11 secrets they don't teach in school: What do people report as their #1 greatest fear? It’s not death…. It’s public speaking. Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, has been a daunting obstacle for me for years. I wasn’t always afraid of public speaking. Until I gave a presentation where I was humiliated by my boss in front of a cabinet of senior leaders, colleagues, and friends. Since I have had anxiety and panic attacks when I present. But conquering your fears is the only way to move forward, right? I've decided to reclaim my public speaking skills. And I want to share my learning journey with you. Here are 11 confidence-boosting tips: 1/ The 5-5-5 Rule → Scan 5 faces; Hold each gaze for 5 seconds. → Repeat every 5 minutes. → Creates an authentic connection. 2/Power Pause → Dead silence for 3 seconds after key points. → Let your message land. 3/ The 3-Part Open → Hook with a question. → Share a story. → State your promise. 4/ Palm-Up Principle → Open palms when speaking = trustworthy. → Pointing fingers = confrontational. 5/ The 90-Second Reset → Feel nervous? Excuse yourself. → 90 seconds of deep breathing reset your nervous system. 6/ Rule of Three → Structure key points in threes. → Our brains love patterns. 7/ 2-Minute Story Rule → Keep stories under 2 minutes. → Any longer, you lose them. 8/ The Lighthouse Method → Plant "anchor points" around the room. → Rotate eye contact between them. → Looks natural, feels structured. 9/ The Power Position → Feet shoulder-width apart. → Hands relaxed at sides. → Projects confidence even when nervous. 10/ The Callback Technique → Reference earlier points later in your talk. → Creates a narrative thread. → Audiences love connections. 11/ The Rehearsal Truth → Practice the opening 3x more than the rest. → Nail the first 30 seconds; you'll nail the talk. Speaking isn't just talking. It's influence at scale. And today is our day to make an impact! How do you feel about public speaking? Comment below 👇  _____ ♻️Repost to help combat the fear of public speaking 🔔 Follow Dr. Heather Maietta for more career tips If you’re #opentowork, I hope this resource helps!!

Ever looked at a chart and thought, “This could be so much clearer”? We’ve all been there—whether it’s trying to decode a graph or create one that tells a story effectively. Recently, I came across a guide on Matplotlib, and it really changed how I think about creating visualizations. It wasn’t just about the technical “how-to” but also the art of making data click with people. Here are a few insights that stuck with me: 1️⃣ Simplicity wins: If your audience needs extra time to figure out what your chart is saying, it’s probably too complicated. Keep it clear and to the point. 2️⃣ The little things matter: Colors, labels, and consistent formatting aren’t just aesthetics—they’re tools to guide attention and understanding. 3️⃣ Reusable design is a game-changer: Building modular and reusable code for charts not only saves time but also keeps your work consistent and polished. Visuals are more than just charts—they’re bridges that connect data to insights. And when done well, they can spark those “aha!” moments that drive decisions. What’s your go-to strategy for making visualizations pop? I’d love to hear how you approach it! #data #ai #matplotlib #theravitshow

I cringed when he started telling his story. Here's how he began: "Well, when Julian asked me to open our meeting today, and I thought to myself 'how can I capture the importance of our transformation work'? I was nervous about it. Anyway, I thought I would start with a story. This is a story about how important it is to have the Board's engagement. And here's what happened. You might remember the Board met last week, right? Well anyway..." I was sinking in my seat. 😣 Here's a pro tip that will level-up everyone's story capability: Push the challenge (or the conflict or the tension) to the very front of the story. You'll be amazed how much of the "preamble" you don't need. (I have one colleague who calls it the "pre-ramble." 👏🏼) Make it the first sentence if you can! My client tried his story a second time, and he started like this: "The Board almost kicked me out of the room yesterday. It was agonizing! So, I was there to present the update on our transformation work, when..." Much better. NOW we're hooked. This is especially important if you are telling stories on LinkedIn or social media, where you need to hook the attention immediately. Notice how I started THIS post with the story tension. Put the conflict in the first sentence. Happy storytelling! #storytelling #engagement #humanizedleadership

Most Pitch Decks are Awful. Truth. Long and boring. I’ve seen them - heck, I’ve written many of them. 💩 So, how do we make them more compelling? Here are some thoughts on improving the quality of your decks…ones so powerful that you will win the pitch, presentation, or asking your Mom and Dad for dog. Hello, Switch. A well-structured pitch deck typically includes: Introduction and agency overview Problem statement and market opportunity Your unique strategy solution and creative framing The work Proposed timeline Pricing Case studies / proof BORING How about a new narrative flow? Here is ONE example - but there are many. Introduction Title Slide: Start with a memorable one-liner that encapsulates your mission or vision. Make it about them and their business. The Hero’s Journey Problem Statement: Describe the challenge your audience faces. It needs to be fact-based. Emotional. Relatable. The Customer’s Tale Solution: Introduce your strategy that solves the problem from a customer/world POV. How does it make you feel? How does it improve the world? How does it make your client money? Now, bring it to life - show a real-life CJX of how your solution has made a difference. Market Size and Opportunity Market Analysis: Present data on the market size and potential growth. What will your idea do in the market? How does it change the client’s fortune? And how does your solution stands out from the competition? Traction and Validation Milestones: Show them the business case. Investment vs. return. Even if it’s a projection it shows how your idea will impact the brand, company, product or service. Most agencies forget to include this part (how can we do it - we don’t have enough info). Balderdash. The Industry Point of View Industry Change: Is your idea big enough to change the category? What’s the long term vision? Closing Recap: Summarize the key points and reiterate the opportunity. Make it simple. One page. The exec CEO summary. So, there are like a 10000 ways to do this. This is one example. For inspiration check out these sources: Canva's Pitch Deck Tutorial: https://lnkd.in/eNUtbEHg Slidebean's Pitch Deck Templates: https://lnkd.in/eQ9tK7kY Canva Space Webinar on Creating Impactful Pitch Decks: https://lnkd.in/eKsPihHp Beautiful.ai - AI-powered presentation software: https://www.beautiful.ai/ Pitch - Collaborative presentation platform: https://pitch.com/ A great pitch deck is more than just attractive slides. It's about telling a compelling story that resonates with your clients and showcases your agency's unique value. #pitchtowin #newbusiness #agencynewbusiness #soulpurposeadvisory

I was Wrong about Influence. Early in my career, I believed influence in a decision-making meeting was the direct outcome of a strong artifact presented and the ensuing discussion. However, with more leadership experience, I have come to realize that while these are important, there is something far more important at play. Influence, for a given decision, largely happens outside of and before decision-making meetings. Here's my 3 step approach you can follow to maximize your influence: (#3 is often missed yet most important) 1. Obsess over Knowing your Audience Why: Understanding your audience in-depth allows you to tailor your communication, approach and positioning. How: ↳ Research their backgrounds, how they think, what their goals are etc. ↳ Attend other meetings where they are present to learn about their priorities, how they think and what questions they ask. Take note of the topics that energize them or cause concern. ↳ Engage with others who frequently interact with them to gain additional insights. Ask about their preferences, hot buttons, and any subtle cues that could be useful in understanding their perspective. 2. Tailor your Communication Why: This ensures that your message is not just heard but also understood and valued. How: ↳ Seek inspiration from existing artifacts and pickup queues on terminologies, context and background on the give topic. ↳ Reflect on their goals and priorities, and integrate these elements into your communication. For instance, if they prioritize efficiency, highlight how your proposal enhances productivity. ↳Ask yourself "So what?" or "Why should they care" as a litmus test for relatability of your proposal. 3. Pre-socialize for support Why: It allows you to refine your approach, address potential objections, and build a coalition of support (ahead of and during the meeting). How: ↳ Schedule informal discussions or small group meetings with key stakeholders or their team members to discuss your idea(s). A casual coffee or a brief virtual call can be effective. Lead with curiosity vs. an intent to respond. ↳ Ask targeted questions to gather feedback and gauge reactions to your ideas. Examples: What are your initial thoughts on this draft proposal? What challenges do you foresee with this approach? How does this align with our current priorities? ↳ Acknowledge, incorporate and highlight the insights from these pre-meetings into the main meeting, treating them as an integral part of the decision-making process. What would you add? PS: BONUS - Following these steps also expands your understanding of the business and your internal network - both of which make you more effective. --- Follow me, tap the (🔔) Omar Halabieh for daily Leadership and Career posts.

Every speaker will face a person like this — and here’s how to handle it:   Even though this person has “more of a comment than a question,” you treat them like they’re asking a question.   Once you get the point they’re making, interrupt and say: “Thanks, sorry to cut you off, but you raise a great question there…”   You’ve just validated something they said! They want to know what you’ll say next. You’ve also regained control and brought your audience back in.   Now, reframe some small part of their “comment” as a question that you’re happy to answer. Like: “How can someone do X, given the problems with [whatever they were focused on]?”   Then answer this question and move on!   I picked this trick up by listening to NPR call-in shows, where the hosts have mastered this verbal jiu-jitsu. Sometimes callers ramble, and the host always cuts in, reframes what they said as a coherent question, and poses that question to the show’s guest. Then the guest answers the question, and it’s on to the next. In short: Don’t lose control. Don’t push back. Don’t awkwardly try to move on. Just treat them like a questioner whose question was a little unclear, so you’re going to clarify it. Works every time! Want help navigating other tricky situations? That’s what my newsletter is all about — subscribe at jasonfeifer.com/newsletter

Most Americans do not understand the difference between telemarketers and B2B sellers. To them, we are all just salespeople who want something from them. What we need to remember, is that our prospects have their guard up. The default assumption is we are dishonest. The default assumption is that we are unethical. You and I know that's not true. But that doesn't mean our prospects, at least subconsciously, aren't starting their interactions with us from a place of mistrust. Here are 3 easy ways to #EarnTheRight to your buyer's trust. 1. Reciprocity Before asking your buyer for something like their time. Give them something of value. The key is that it has to be of value TO THEM. This means sending a 72-page White Paper about a topic they may or may not be interested in and expecting them to weed through all 72 pages to find something of value is NOT IT. Make it matter to THEM & make it EASY to get the value you are trying to deliver. 2. Active Listening It feels good to be heard. It feels good when you can talk without somebody interrupting you. I follow an #ActiveListening framework called the 4R approach. The most important R is RESIST. Resist the temptation to make it about yourself. Instead, keep the spotlight fully on your prospect. Until you are sure you really understand what they are communicating and just to make sure you got it write RESTATE it back to them. And only then, should you talk because you have something to share that you're sure is RELEVANT to them. 3. Ask questions Which you can't do well if you've not actively listened so see # 2 if you're struggling to ask great questions. When I first started selling, I literally kept a post-it note on my desk that said, WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY WHICH HOW It reminded me to replace, what was then my default language, phrases like "I'd recommend" OR "I think" with questions. The more open-ended questions I asked and the better I listened, the more I mastered #NeedsAnalysis. Now it's one of the things I do best and certainly core to my success with closing millions in revenue with some of the sexiest Fortune 500 brands out there! What is one way you are going to #EarnTheRight to your buyer's trust today? ---- If you appreciated this post, please hit follow and ring my 🔔