Let’s Be Clear is Bluestone’s blog devoted to topics related to media training, presentation and speech coaching, better investor and analyst calls and virtual presentations.
A while back, some longtime clients asked me to sit in as a salesman made his pitch to them. His firm had just launched an innovative new program and my clients were eager to learn how it might improve outcomes for their company.
As the salesman organized himself at the front of the room, a good-sized audience settled in and anticipation grew. As the host introduced the speaker, the room hushed. We were ready to be wowed.
Read MoreClients often ask us to review major presentations at the eleventh hour, hoping we can make the tweaks that will take their material from good to great. In the best cases, our job is to put icing on the cake and who doesn’t love to do that? But sometimes, the cake isn’t ready for icing. In fact, in some cases, everyone is still scrambling around, trying to find the ingredients. Often those frantic, final meetings are spent searching for photos, fretting over font sizes, adjusting bullets and reordering slides ad nauseam.
Read MoreYou had them on the edge of their seats the whole talk. They nodded at your insights and laughed at your jokes. But suddenly, when you announce you’ll take questions….crickets. What seemed to be a soaring success suddenly feels more like a flop. Though it’s hard not to feel the audience is using its silence to give you the hook, don’t dash off just yet.
Read MoreWhether your organization is facing a crisis, or you’re just hoping to score some positive press, it’s smart to make sure the person talking to the media is prepared to look and sound great when the pressure is on.
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