HuffPost Canada closed in 2021 and this site is maintained as an online
archive. If you have questions or concerns, please check our
FAQ or contact
support@huffpost.com.
Public Speaking
Mark Saunders is an outstanding cop and a good man. If he can improve his communications game, more people will know it.
The capacity to capture people's attention and persuade from the front of a room are critical tools -- whether your goal is winning a new client, motivating your employees or changing the world. They're widely recognized as key career skills. Failure to master presentations can limit opportunities in many fields.
Whether you're using PowerPoint, Prezi, Sway or Keynote, the winning formula contains visuals that support your spoken content. Well-produced visuals add impact, guide the story along, and deliver that story in a concise and captivating way.
If we go a little deeper and break down the components of this speech, we can see that it's the STRUCTURE of this speech that allows it to flow so well, that connects with the audience, and that leaves its audience with a clear call-to-action, and a sense of hope over the mostly bleak picture that she paints.
Public speaking is linked to career success: It creates a perception that you're an expert in your field and it can be an opportunity to motivate people. I used to be terrified of speaking in public too, but was forced to overcome my fear so I could network with other entrepreneurs and promote my business.
I went to a wedding a few weeks ago, and had the opportunity to listen to at least 7 different speeches given by the family and friends of the happy couple. The content of all the speeches was great -- all were very heartfelt and warm, and written from a place of deep caring for the couple. But some were greater than others. Here's what I learned.
As professional communicators who advise others on how to improve their ability to connect with audiences, Shari Graydon and Sarah Neville have watched the astonishing ascension of political neophyte and insult-machine Donald Trump with dropped jaws. Here's their conversation about the lessons to be learned from his fearless communication style.
As a tool, Pokemon Go has changed my life. It's such a simple tool (and let's face it, not a great app or game as it crashes constantly and is riddled with server issues) but it's vastly improved my mental and physical health in the two weeks I have been using it.
True leaders understand the importance of effective communication. Powerful speeches have changed the world and served as powerful agents of persuasion. Whether you're trying to change the world or change a lightbulb, the way you speak can mean the difference between getting walked on and being revered. Effective communication is not a "soft skill," it's a necessity if you're dealing with human beings in your line of work.
