Podcasts about presentation coach

Darren and Mark encourage their clients to review their scripts and ask, “How can I say this better with fewer words?” Today they discuss how having a better mindset can transform your presentation, improve your business, and make you unforgettable.    SNIPPETS:   • Ask: What can I make, say, or do better?   • Re-evaluate your presentations, programs, and processes   • Revisit your digital footprint   • Cut superfluous content   • Consider the audience's mindset • Do a debrief   • Random comments can provide better options   • Find better marketing strategies   • Give your audience a better experience   • Build better relationships with clients and meeting planners   Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/   Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com

At some point, you may feel stuck in your business, doing the same thing over and over, without any measurable progress. Today Mark and Darren have an off-the-cuff discussion about ways to get breakthroughs on your path to becoming unforgettable.    SNIPPETS:   • Reach your ‘enough is enough' point   • Revisit your habits   • Adopt a new perspective   • Seek qualified help   • Find a mentor • Be humble and sincere   • Be a sponge   • Join a mastermind   • Say ‘Yes' when a pro offers to help   • Apply their advice   • Breakthroughs come from growth Join us for Game Changers: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/workshops/game-changers-2025/   Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com

Presentation Coach, Creative Director, and Author, Ben Levy joins Jeff Abracen to break down the art of creative agency presentations, why the best idea doesn't always win, and how to structure a story that sells.Dig into the biggest mistakes people make in presentations (and how to fix them), why reading slides out loud is killing your pitch, how confidence in public speaking is built through preparation—not personality, the power of pacing meetings to avoid information overload, why agencies need to ditch templates and start answering the right questions, how to create conversations instead of monologues, and how Ben overcame social anxiety and became a presentation coach…and so much more!Find Ben Levy Here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sellitgreat/https://www.sellitgreat.com/https://www.sellitgreat.com/shophttps://schoolofastonishingpursuits.com/Chapters00:00 Intro05:42 Overcoming Presentation Anxiety12:52 The Importance of Storytelling in Presentations21:09 Building Trust Through Effective Communication25:05 Teaching and Learning in the Creative Industry33:25 The Power of Storytelling in Presentations35:20 Influence of Family on Communication Skills37:54 Overcoming Presentation Challenges40:09 Learning from Industry Leaders42:40 The Importance of Authenticity in Presentations46:30 Lessons from Presentation Failures50:27 Understanding Client Expectations52:59 Competing for Attention in a Noisy World54:13 Disruptive Presentation Techniques57:18 Building Strong Client Relationships59:05 The Role of Mentorship in GrowthConnect with Jeff Abracen on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffabracen/]If you are or know a disruptive influencer who would make a great guest, we'd love to hear from you. Every Like, Share, Subscription and Review means a lot.Cover art by Daniel DevoyMusic by Stephen Voyce©2024 The Disruptive Influence Podcast - Jeff Abracen

This is Changeability. I'm Julian Mather and mastering change isn't about being fearless or gifted— it's about building a skillset, by working on a few basics, a little bit, every day Today's guest is MC. Host. Event Producer. Video Communications. Presentation Coach. Renowned for high energy, intelligence, quick wit and ability to read an audience. Welcome Andrew Gill

Mark says, “One man's mundane is another man's magnificent.” We sometimes fail to see the magnificence in our stories because we're too close to them. Today Darren and Mark explain why we may be too close, and suggest ways to broaden our perspective      SNIPPETS: • Start with a big block of clay   • We can be so close that we can't identify the magnificent in our story   • Video-record yourself telling your story   • Present to a test audience   • Look at your story from the audience's perspective   • Learn what your audience is thinking   • We can be too close to our favorite and signature stories   • Work with a qualified coach   • We can be so close that we miss ‘blind spots'   Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/   Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com

What can be the motivation to go ‘all in' as you prepare to deliver your next presentation? Mark and Darren look at the motivation for preparation and explain the value of a presentation walkthrough…with a live audience.   SNIPPETS: • When hour ego is at stake, you put in more work   • Put your rehearsal on the calendar, preferably 2 weeks out   • Work with a coach   • Walkthrough with your peer group as your audience   • Rehearse as if it's game day   • Record yourself   • Walkthrough with those who have been there before you   • Listen for ‘cringe moments; if I cringe, I must correct   • The walkthrough forces you to go all in   • Engage in preparation motivation for your next presentation   Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/   Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com

What is a ‘back pocket speech?' When do you need it? How do you use it? All good questions! Darren and Mark provide answers…and ideas for making your ‘back pocket speech' unforgettable.   SNIPPETS: • It's not if…but when you have to fill in for another speaker   • Be prepared   • Make the meeting planner look good, and build your reputation   • Make it a habit at a conference to offer to speak if a speaker doesn't show up   • Ask yourself, “What more can I provide?”   • Create awareness. If they aren't aware of you, they can't hire you   • Don't get ready; stay ready (Craig Valentine)   • Keep a file of potential back-pocket presentations   • You have more material than you know   • Be natural Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/   Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com

Sometimes speeches sound…well…speechy! Darren and Mark challenge you to examine your content and offer advice for ensuring that your authenticity shines through in every presentation.   SNIPPETS: • Be conversational   • Create a transcription   • Use tools like Microsoft Word's DICTATE feature   • You can't edit what you don't write down   • Write for the eye, not for the eye   • Bullet-point your ideas   • Use keywords   • Avoid ‘cop-speak'   • Don't over-complicate   • Be natural

Our senses can play a significant part in giving our audience an unforgettable experience. Today, Mark and Darren talk about the power of the sense of smell and share how you can use it effectively in your stories.   SNIPPETS: • Use V.A.K.S.   • Use smell as you relive your experiences   • Smell can create a visceral audience response   • Use smell to transport yourself to the scene first   • Then use smell to transport your audience to the scene   • Physically show your response to an odor, scent, or aroma   • Let your face and body reflect your emotional response   • Let the audience ‘sense' the scene   • Let the moment linger; give the audience time to feel it   • Use the contrast between the expectation from a smell, and the reality                                             • Don't overdo it                                                                                                          

Can you ‘up your game' in 2025 make it your best year yet? Darren and Mark offer solid suggestions for upgrading your program, your presentation, and your presence in the marketplace. Applying these principles and practices will put you firmly on the path to being unforgettable...and making this YOUR BEST YEAR YET!   SNIPPETS: • It's YOUR RESPONSIBILITY   • Assess your presentation and your business with the goal to improve   • Consider upgrading your speech title   • Revisit your content (open/close, structure, humor, delivery, stories)   • Review your video/audio recordings; what can you enhance?   • Upgrade your introduction, perhaps start using a video   • Rebrand if necessary   • Start or re-launch a newsletter   • Be intentional about social media presence; pick a platform                                             • Attend GAME CHANGERS conference at Stage Time University   • Collaborate with others   • Collaborate with a Mastermind, get a coach, attend industry conferences  

Your audience can hear your story, but can they SEE it? Today Mark and Darren explore ways that you can prompt your audience to go beyond just hearing your story, to experiencing it...right at the beginning. These simple techniques will help your audience to see your unforgettable story.   SNIPPETS: • Telling your story is like creating a painting   • Share 2 or 3 details about the setting   • Let the audience paint the picture   • Let the audience see one visual and one emotional character detail   • Non-verbal depictions can paint a clear picture   • Dialog can be very descriptive   • Descriptions of characteristics and clothing are highly effective   • Your entire audience need not see the SAME thing; they must see SOMEthing   • Test your story by creating an audience (NSA, Toastmasters, Mastermind etc.)                                             • Ask them what they saw and respond to feedback   • Be creative and compelling

Illustrations can be powerful; they give your audience a memorable experience. How do you create and execute an experience that has 4,000 people on their feet, actively participating, and leaving transformed? Brian Biro, America's Breakthrough Speaker, sits down with Mark and Darren to provide insight into how has been able to deliver unforgettable experiences for more than 30 years.   SNIPPETS: • Help audiences to experience breakthroughs   • Become a master storyteller   • Shift from ego to ‘we go'   • Do more for other than you do for yourself   • When you enrich your audience's experience, you enrich your own   • Don't decide someone else's breakthrough potential   • Release your authentic energy   • 95% of your breakthrough depends on where you place your focus   • BE confident…and humble                                             • Never underestimate the power of simplicity   • Let every illustration have value and meaning   • SEE BRIAN IN ACTION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK2uZftQUpg

In our zeal to share our knowledge with our audience, we sometimes offer too much content. Mark and Darren discuss this phenomenon and offer both perspective and practices for giving your audience your most appropriate content.   SNIPPETS: • Vast content is a blessing   • You can't share everything  you know in one presentation   • To share everything, write a book   • Give the highlights   • What's the intent of the event   • What does the audience need to know   • Decide which details to share   • Be willing to let some material go   • If you squeeze too much content in, you squeeze your audience out                                             • Serve the needs of each specific audience   • Use a single-elimination tournament format to ‘eliminate' content

Presentations can often be boring. Why? In this episode, Darren and Mark examine three reasons and provide solutions to help any presenter move from boring to unforgettable.   SNIPPETS: • You need a proven world-class structure   • Structure gives you confidence and gives your audience clarity   • Invest time to properly structure your presentation   • Solid structure prevents you from taking a labyrinthine journey   • Stories are the heartbeat of presentations   • Bullet-point your life   • Stories elicit emotion to deliver a message   • Structure your stories for maximum impact                                             • Get qualified feedback   • Set ego and laziness aside   • Seek education, not confirmation and validation

2024 World Champion of Public Speaking Luisa Montalvo sits down with Darren and Mark to discuss her journey from First Runner-Up in 2019 to World Champion in 2024…and her life-changing experience in between.  Luisa also shares her perspective on mentors, contests, taking risks, and serving your audience, providing tips that will help any presenter to become unforgettable.   SNIPPETS:   • Listen to your mentor   • Have fun   • Compete when it's time   • Ask: “Does the audience NEED this?”   • Be willing to take risks   • Be tactful   • Always keep the audience in mind   • Be open-minded to suggestions and criticism                                             • Follow your heart   • Prepare for the aftermath of a win

Ping: (verb) to send a signal to (a device) in order to determine its status or location.   As presenters, we must be sure that our audiences receive our message. We ‘ping' in order to determine our audience's status (engagement/understanding) and location (presence.) Today Darren and Mark drill down on ‘pinging' and share how pinging, when done well, can leave a lasting impact.   SNIPPETS:   • Check in with the audience   • Confirm their thought process   • Make an emotional connection   • Are they following you   • Can they relate   • Do they fully comprehend   • Read the audience's reaction   • Ping and Pause                                             • Do you ping enough   • Do you ping at the right moments   • Ping for deeper connection and lasting impact  

Imagine being on stage for the FIRST TIME, telling a deeply personal and emotional story that you've NEVER told before, to an audience of executives. How would you navigate ? Today Darren and Mark get answers form Monika, a coaching client from Australia who faced that exact situation recently. She openly shares her fears and triumphs, as well as the process that helped her to deliver an unforgettable presentation.    SNIPPETS: • Don't underestimate the power of your personal story   • Use the power of your mind to overcome your fear   • You don't know you can until you try   • Take a leap of faith and   • Step out of your comfort zone   • Putting yourself out there is powerful   • If you feel afraid, you SHOULD tell your story   • Use a stage plan to help you to anchor the stages of your story                                             • Sharing your vulnerabilities can be empowering   • Good coaching is a game changer

Do your clients and prospects know how much you have to offer? Mark and Darren discuss more than a dozen additional ways that you can serve your clients, and techniques for making meeting planners aware.   SNIPPETS:   • Add value   • Let them know during your pitch   • Reinforce during pre-event call   • Remind them during your follow-up meeting   • Put additional offerings in the contract/agreement   • Seed additional services during your presentation   • No need to sell from the stage                                             • Use TalkaDot   • Have a verbal Linktree conversation   • Pass a clipboard to collect information   • Use your newsletter • Give away your book during your presentation                                                                                                          

Change is constant and as presenters, we must stay relevant. Today Darren and Mark explore ways for us to stay current, stay relevant and become unforgettable.    SNIPPETS:   • Seek to serve your audience   • Update websites, slide decks, and demo videos regularly   • Stay aware of industry changes   • Be aware of what's ‘top of mind' in your area of expertise   • Constantly look for relevant stories and events   • Look for the ‘emotional juice.'   • Update your references, quotes, and content                                             • Get familiar with new and emerging technology   • Learn about current hot topics   • Explore new tools (TALKADOT etc.)   • Use your network and mastermind • Use Google search ‘NEWS' option for client organization updates

Jeff Rogers, a fairly new member of the National Speakers Association, is the winner of NSA's LAST STORY STANDING storytelling competition. He and Mike Davis…one of his coaches…chat with Mark and Darren about his intent, his process, and the lessons he learned on his journey to the first-place trophy.   SNIPPETS: • Seek to build relationships first   • Enter contests to learn   • Work with a coach to sharpen your story   • Step away from your ego   • Don't just tell the story; enact it   • Show your characters' perspective   • Don't be the hero of your own story                                             • Your story's hero can be a CONCEPT   • Stay in your style; don't let anyone coach you out of it   • Go down with YOUR message   • Practice, then go play

Rotary Speech Contest, Story SLAM, MOTH, Last Story Standing, World Championship of Public Speaking, and more. Speech competitions abound, and today Darren and Mark are joined by Stage Time University faculty member Mike Davis as they face the question: “Why compete?” Their answers provide the myriad benefits of competing.    SNIPPETS: • Get better faster, grow, and improve quickly   • Breakthroughs come from experience, and experience comes from competing   • Transcend your comfort zone   • Get coaches - plural   • Competition pushes you to work harder   • Get a higher level of feedback   • Push to be your best at your competition's level of excellence   • Build confidence                                             • Learn lasting techniques from the best   • Apply discipline and a process   • Work against a clock with deadlines

Imagine being asked to deliver new material, on a subject you have never addressed, on short notice, under pressure, three times in 24 hours. Today, Mark and Darren talk with professional speaker and coach Sheree Cain-Jones, who found herself in that situation recently. Her insight from the lessons learned, and the principles she applied along the way, will help you navigate the ‘new content on short notice' path, and deliver your unforgettable presentation.   SNIPPETS: • Acknowledge the weight of responsibility when delivering new content   • Stop, think, take it in, then decide to accept an assignment on short notice   • We can find reasons to say ‘no;' find reasons to say ‘yes'   • Be wary of your ‘echo chamber' and lean on your support group   • Start with a PREGNANT PREMISE   • Adopt a research mindset and dig deep into your topic   • Put on your hat of humility   • Be vulnerable, even though it creates risk                                             • To internalize content, record, listen, re-record, listen again   • Don't be perfect; be prepared   • Incorporate your strengths and skillset   • Your message isn't in you; it IS you

We ALL speak with an accent, and at times it's easy to believe that we must ‘lose' our accent to be accepted. Today, Mark and Darren have a frank conversation with speech and accent expert Dr. Leslie Gordon, as she gives advice on using your accent as an asset.    SNIPPETS: • Honor the skill of owning more than one sound   • Treat the world as a playground for your eyes and ears   • The way we speak creates a picture of who we are   • Your accent is a tool in your toolkit   • Your accent can create a connection   • Your accent is a layer of your story   • We all have more than one accent   • Focus on being understood and prioritize clarity                                             • Language can be a social and political tool, causing some to feel ‘othered'   • Move away from self-judgment   • Code-Switching requires great skill and is governed by rules   • Don't think ‘accent reduction;' think ‘accent acquisition'                                             • Your accent can feel like home

Script writing takes work and the practical, time-saving methods that Darren and Mark discuss today will make the process easier. Listen as they examine how to create your first script, edit with impact, and use your script as a presentation roadmap.    SNIPPETS: • You can't edit what you don't create   • In Microsoft Word use DICTATE to generate a transcript   • Create your ‘sloppy first copy'   • Separate each line of your script   • Add LINE NUMBERS in Google Docs, MS Word, etc.   • Add WORD COUNT   • Insert PAGE NUMBERS   • Insert LINE NUMBERS                                             • Customize with pause cues, timing cues, emotion cues, and stage direction   • Color code notes as you wish   • Say it better with fewer words

Quotations from famous speakers, authors, and celebrities can be very appealing and can support your message. The same can be said of oft-quoted statistics. Today Mark and Darren discuss the importance of accuracy when using quotes and statistics, share a few examples, and provide simple yet effective advice for ‘getting it right.'   SNIPPETS:   • Do due diligence   • Your reputation and credibility are at stake   • Verification sources abound…web searches, AI, etc. Use them   • “Stop quoting dead white men!” – Patricia Fripp   • Create your own quotes   • Quote the people who have influenced you…teachers, friends, family                                             • Your audience needs your perspective   • Verify EVERY quotation for accuracy   • Double check the context of every quote and statistic   • Name the source of each quote and statistic   • Your accuracy…and inaccuracy has a global reach

In this follow-up to Episode 253 (What Do You Ask An Event Planner) Mark and Darren talk about questions to ask participants ahead of your speaking engagement. This episode will help you to unearth critical material and help you to customize your unforgettable presentation.    SNIPPETS: • Discover the organization's mentors, matriarchs, patriarchs, and legends   • Get permission to call event attendees   • Schedule a 10-minute call to weeks before the event   • Ask questions and listen carefully to answers   • Learn the organization's language   • Find out why they attend these events                                             • Ask about taboo topics   • Find stories that connect to your content   • Invite them to seek you out at the event                                            

You've got the speaking engagement, now what? What can the event planner tell you to help you to deliver an unforgettable presentation? Darren and Mark discuss the pre-event questionnaire and offer insight into how you can set yourself up for presentation success.   SNIPPETS: • Prepare an Event Planners Questionnaire   • Have a call and connect casually first (video is ideal)   • Ask questions and listen carefully to answers   • Your client is the event planner   • Identify the economic buyer                                             • Read the Zoom room   • Be a Planner-Pleaser   • Critical question: Ask about taboo topics   • Ask about recent company/organization changes                                             • Strive to be their favorite   • Ask permission to interview 10 event attendees                                             • Start your own questionnaire as an editable document

Want to improve your presentation skills? In this episode of The Business Ownership Podcast I interviewed Trevor Lee. Trevor is a Business Event Speaker and Compere and a Presentation Coach.He is also a  Sales Pitch Coach, multiple podcast host and a 2x Business Author. Trevor shares invaluable insights into the art of delivering compelling presentations that not only capture attention but also drive results. From his unique model to practical tips on audience engagement and the importance of preparation, Trevor's advice is a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance their presentation skills. Whether you're a CEO, a salesperson, or an HR professional, this episode offers actionable strategies to help you present with confidence and clarity.Learn how to improve presentation skills. Check this out!Show Links:Trevor Lee Website: https://www.trevorjlee.com/ Trevor Lee LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-lee/Book a call with Michelle: https://go.appointmentcore.com/book/IcFD4cGJoin our Facebook group for business owners to get help or help other business owners!The Business Ownership Group - Secrets to Scaling: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessownershipsecretstoscalingLooking to scale your business? Get free gifts here to help you on your way: https://www.awarenessstrategies.com/

Speakers make a common mistake when seeking audience participation. They ask “HOW MANY of you…” That question needs a NUMERICAL response. Today Darren and Mark explain how to ask BETTER questions, and how to use the audience's non-verbal response to enhance their own experience.   SNIPPETS: • How would you say it over coffee to one person   • Use the language of a conversation   • Respect the versatility of the word YOU'   • Ask you-focused questions   • Put the audience into your story                                             • Tap into their world, and transport them into yours   • Give the audience time to answer questions in their heads   • Read the audience   • Acknowledge their responses, even non-verbal                                             • Take inventory of the questions that you ask   • Ask yourself, “Is there a better way to ask that question?”                                             • Speaking is dialogue, not monologue

Speakers sometimes ask for help making tweaks, adding humor, or finding more powerful stories…a few days before their presentation. All too often, it's just too late. Today, Darren and Mark share their experience with speakers who have waited too long, explain the benefits of getting help early, and offer advice on how to avoid waiting until it's too late.   SNIPPETS: • Get a speaking coach sooner   • Speech contestants, don't assume you will reach a certain level automatically   • Stop making changes several days before the presentation. Freeze the design   • Don't expect last-minute miracles   • Get help perfecting your script before focusing on stagecraft                                             • Getting help early has several benefits   • You will be more confident   • You will have stronger content   • You will find your best stories                                             • You will uncover humor in time to perfect it   • You will present more effectively                                             • You will deliver a more unforgettable presentation

Nicci Take featured in our first Pride series in 2021 and shared her story as a prominent transgender advocate, inspirational speaker and coach.  We have watched Nicci's presence grow and thrive over the past 3 years, she posts frequent inspirational content on Linked IN and we we wanted to ask her back onto the podcast to share some of that wisdom  - particularly as we get ready to launch our pride series of 2024 in coming weeks. Now global head coach at MMC Marsh McLennan, Nicci works with teams to help the company secure more deals.  We speak about the dynamics of being memorable in these presentations, and how prioritizing the needs of the audience is paramount.  We discuss the poor retention levels of audiences, citing the Ebbinghaus Curve of Forgetting and the staggering amount of information that is forgotten as time passes from the date of acquiring it.  This reinforces the importance of repetition and follow up.  Nicci cites the “day, week, month” mantra for follow up, which sets the cadence for interactions after the initial meeting, and a host of other tips for making presentations memorable, including that it really is not about the presenter.  

How do four inexperienced presenters, who have never delivered a presentation to an audience of 1,000 people before, each get STANDING OVATIONS? Mark and Darren review their recent experience coaching four CEOs to deliver deeply personal 8-minute stories to their peers in the Young Presidents' Organization. The lessons learned are invaluable and will help you to deliver your unforgettable presentation.   SNIPPETS: • Invest energy an effort   • Be coachable   • Practice, practice, practice   • Rehearse handling distractions   • Trust your instinct about what works well for YOU                                             • Talk to your coach about your ideas   • Tell your story in your own unique way   • Find your 11…that which makes you stand out   • Build a relationship with your coach                                             • Learn from others who have given similar presentations   • Don't focus on a standing ovation

Leaders are responsible for articulating the North Star. When you do this well, you create clarity for your colleagues and renewed commitment.How do you share a vision and strategy that aligns and excites audiences? Listen to ways to avoid these common problems:Too Much InformationNo ContextLack of frequency + follow-throughInconsistencyLack of DelegationLearn the framework for articulating a vision that drives action and engagement. _____Interested in private and group coaching on this topic, check out our coaching program at www.speakbydesign.com/join. Interested in becoming a leadership communication coach, learn more at www.speakbydesign.com/certification. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

You have just attended a conference, heard good speakers, and received powerful content. You walk away with a folder full of notes, e-mail addresses and phone numbers. NOW what should you do? Darren and Mark share best practices to keep your enthusiasm and momentum alive and productively take full advantage of the event experience.   SNIPPETS: • Review KEEPERS and ACTION ITEMS   • Prioritize ONE ACTION and follow through on that action consistently   • Connect with another attendee as an accountability partner   • Create a mastermind with other attendees   • Connect with fellow speakers and attendees on LinkedIn                                             • Connect with the event planner and thank them   • Eliminate items that create bad habits   • Apply the principles your learned                                             • Revisit your notes from the last event you attended and take ONE ACTION

Leaders must have showmanship and know how to "perform" a message. It is part of the role. Great delivery balances three tensions:Strength and VulnerabilityFitting In and Standing OutDistance and IntimacyWhen you put all of the opposites into your body language, vocal presence, and content - you naturally will have a better delivery. People often resist the idea of acting in a business setting. Instead, see this as an invitation to bring all your energy, emotion, and creativity to captivate your listener. Listen as I walk through visual cues, vocal presence, strong starts and closes, provocative transitions, storytelling, use of data, and strong closes. Apply these tips with your next large audience and increase the impact. ************If you want to dig into this more deeply in private and group sessions, check out our monthly coaching program at https://www.speakbydesignuniversity.com/monthlyprogram.Interested in bringing an event to your office or virtual team, email team@speakbydesign.com. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

You have just presented at an event and after all your hard work planning, preparing, and presenting, what should you do? Today Mark and Darren offer solid suggestions to help you stay on top of your game after every speaking event.   SNIPPETS:   • Schedule a day off   • Block time for your family, even if they are at the event with you   • Don't ruin your “speaker's high”   • Debrief with the client within a week   • Treat the debrief as a sales call   • Connect with fellow speakers and attendees on LinkedIn                                             • Ask for other opportunities to serve

So, you want to travel the world and share your message. Perhaps you've wondered what it's like to be a ‘road warrior.' Mark and Darren pull back the curtain on their experiences of a combined 50+ years of traveling to speak, and share their time-tested tips for being a successful road warrior.   SNIPPETS: • You are not alone   • It's not always glamorous   • Give yourself grace   • Going international hire an agent/bureau to manage proposals & negotiations   • Examine the systems you set up to function while you're on the road   • Arrive a day early to prepare yourself   • Tack on an extra road day to refill yourself; self-care is critical   • Decide what's best for your stress   • Join frequent air/hotel/rental car programs   • Take photos of room numbers and parking spaces   • Use airport security programs like TSA Pre-check, CLEAR and Digital ID   • Maintain balance

On this episode of I Need A Coach, join host Adam Packard as he sits down with Alessa Neeck, a former Broadway star turned presentation and communications coach for introverts. Alessa shares her journey from overcoming stage fright to empowering introverts to become impactful communicators. This episode gives insights into authenticity, breathwork, and finding your unique edge in a competitive coaching world. She offers practical tips and actionable advice for anyone looking to improve their communication skills and confidence. Join the discussion on morning and evening routines, unique communication angles, and the power of referrals.Alessa Neeck, CEMP, is an Executive Presentation Coach who empowers high performers to excel at presentation, communication, and public speaking. Alessa knows how to “talk the talk,” but unlike other coaches, she has personally “walked the walk.” Alessa spent the first 15 years of her professional career on Broadway, including starring in the title role in Cinderella. Contrary to the stereotype that all actors are extroverts, Alessa is not. She is an introvert who had to discover unique tools to overcome her anxiety, self-doubt, and the immense pressure of performing in front of thousands night after night. Through her transformation, Alessa developed a system to reprogram her mindset and eliminate self-sabotaging behaviours. Her passion shifted to sharing these tools, helping others conquer fear-based thinking, and becoming confident communicators who can present their talents to the world authentically. Alessa has worked with hundreds of clients, from C-Suites to Entrepreneurs, Start-ups to Fortune 500 Companies. Whether acing high-stakes presentations, strengthening relationships, or building new connections, Alessa empowers her clients to unlock their true potential to thrive both personally and professionally.Key Topics Discussed:Overcoming fear and anxiety when public speakingImplementing morning and evening routines for mental wellnessTailoring communication styles to connect deeply with othersFinding a niche and being distinct in the coaching marketUtilizing social proof and referrals for lead generationTimestamps:09:49 Identifying strengths, weaknesses, and fears.13:41 Understanding boundaries, communication, and adapting to others.18:44 Nightly routines, taking a break from screen time and cultivating balance with journalling.22:09 Unique communication angles to help connect with clients.23:09 Taking a holistic approach with a niche focus in the coaching market.Episode Resources:Alessa Neeck Coaching | WebsiteAlessa Neeck Coaching | YouTubeAlessa Neeck Coaching | FacebookAlessa Neeck | LinkedInAlessa Neeck | Instagram

Imagine, your largest audience so far has been fewer than ninety people, and you now get to tell your most emotional personal story on a BIG STAGE to more than 1,300 CEOs! What thoughts swirl through your head, and how will you pull it off?   Today Darren and Mark get answers from Management Consultant and Executive Coach Jody LaVoie. Mark and Darren helped to prepare Jody for her first time on the big stage…a global conference for CEOs. Jody's lessons learned and wisdom gained will help you to get ready for your first (or next) time on the big stage!   SNIPPETS: • Be open to your coaches' point of view   • Start preparing your presentation with the end in mind   • Build your story in scenes   • Invest time refining your message   • Use  Foundational Phrase to make your message more meaningful   • “Don't over-Darren” - Bring YOURSELF to the platform                                             • Focus less on delivering your next line, and more on your audience   • Make sure your message lands with the audience   • Serve your audience   • After your first time on the big stage, take time to do nothing tomorrow

Have you ever received advice that changed the game in your business, career, or relationships? Today Darren and Mark discuss some of the nuggets of wisdom that they've received…and successfully applied…throughout their careers.   SNIPPETS: • Let no one out-prepare you   • Strive to be the client's favorite   • Your money should make more money than you do   • A true champion overcomes all adversities   • Write a speech you can't wait to deliver   • Humanize data          • Invest in your success   • Don't be informative; be transformative

Can you influence without authority? Yes! Do you know how to truly influence with integrity? You already do every day. Maybe you didn't realize it. We do this naturally, but maybe you need to take a closer look at what you already do at home, at work and with your family. It is happening all around you. Take note and influence with purpose. Discover 7 Ways to Influence

In addition to being part of speaking communities, we, as presenters belong to professional, social, charitable, faith-based, and other communities. Today Mark and Darren discuss the power of community, examining the ways that communities make us grow…and change. They offer advice on collaborating with your community, growing your community, and even leaving your community. Using Stage Time University, Toastmasters International, and the National Speakers Association as examples, they show benefits and blessings of being in community with like-minded people and reveal how community has helped them to prepare unforgettable presentations.   SNIPPETS: • Community helps change perspective   • Choose your community   • Use your community   • Serve your community   • Build your community   • Don't be abused by your community, if you must leave, do so with grace                                             • Protect your community   • Don't think NETWORKING; think NETSERVING   • Is your community helping or harming you   • Take inventory of your communities

Thorough research is an invaluable part of preparing unforgettable presentations. There are myriad ways to access information, and so much information from which to glean. Where do I look? How much should I use? How can I verify? Darren and Mark discuss these questions with…and get answer from…researcher/author/speaker Vince Antonucci and comedy writer/TV producer Chris McGuire. Their perspective on effective research will help you to prepare your unforgettable presentation.   SNIPPETS: • Dig deeper into your subject   • Look for compelling and unique information   • Put in the extra work   • Use AI tools   • Use ‘old-fashioned' tools; search and read.   • The more you learn, the better your chances of finding critical content                                             • Ask: “What generates an emotional response?”   • Test research results on small audiences to gauge emotional reactions   • Research for customization; learn from The Barenaked Ladies   • Use the ‘Registration Desk Principle;' find what bugs everyone  

Virtual presentations are now commonplace and it's easy to assume, “I've done quite a few of these and I'm good!” Today Darren and Mark share reminders of how FLOW, FOCUS and PACE ELEMENTS can make a significant difference in your virtual presentation…especially since distractions can be continuous and abundant.   SNIPPETS: • Check your studio setup…especially what's behind you   • Re-evaluate every aspect of your virtual presentation   • To maintain FLOW, it's wise to have a producer, co-host, or co-presenter   • Be aware of the difference between a co-host, and a co-presenter   • Establish key toles up front   • Create smooth handoffs                                             • To maintain audience FOCUS, make slides simple and clear, 1 slide, 1 point   • Use PACE ELEMENTS to keep your audience engaged   • Use client's language to solidify your connection

The story is arguably a presenter's most potent tool. While it's important to tell stories well, it is equally…if not significantly more important to transport your audience into the story. As Mark and Darren explain today, the key is to have CONGRUENT CHARACTERS, whose emotions are congruent with the emotion that they feel in the story. They share why many presenters fall short in this area and offer solid suggestions for using body language for greater emotional impact.   SNIPPETS: • Let your audience feel the emotion of the characters   • Don't elicit confusion   • In your script add ‘before' and ‘after' emotions in parentheses   • Your eyes should change when the emotion changes   • Emotional shifts are unclear without a character's baseline emotion   • Leave your emotional baseline when you embody a character                                             • Record video, playback muted, ask a friend to identify the emotion   • Be congruent to connect

Holograms? Hula hoops? What do they have to do with delivering an unforgettable presentation? Mark and Darren explain how and why holograms help you to vividly create scenes in the minds of your audiences. This simple but potent technique will allow you to transform your speech into an experience.   SNIPPETS: • Holograms appear in the audience's mind whether you're aware or not   • Holograms establish characters and scenes   • You can point to a hologram and the audience will recall the scene/story   • Holograms have experiential value   • Holograms have emotional impact                                             • Use the depth and width of the platform to make holograms more vivid   • Use hula hoops – INSIDE is dialogue; OUTSIDE, speak to your audience   • BLOCK spots on stage. Use them to show MOMENTS of TRANSFORMATION   • Time progresses audience left to right   • Decide what scene/character/story each hologram represents

Avoiding mistakes and adopting the right practices are keys to successfully growing your business. Today Darren and Mark talk with business growth expert and Hall of Fame speaker Mark LeBlanc as he shares four decades worth of wisdom on finding your niche, developing your content, connecting with your audience, and much more.   SNIPPETS: • If you quit 1,000 times, start again 1,001 times   • You must earn the right to speak   • Avoid thinking that you're better than you are   • Raise your hand and get help   • Engage minds, touch hearts, stir souls, and make them laugh                                             • Focus on a singular idea and build your speech around it   • Frame your content   • Build an ‘accordion' presentation   • Create a great defining statement   • Find your sliver of the market

A new year often brings New Year resolutions. Today Mark and Darren offer four unforgettable habits to help you take your presentations…and your business…to a new level in 2024 and beyond.   SNIPPETS: • Take a TOP 5 Inventory • Disconnect to reconnect • Marketing has changed; find a way that works today • It is our job to reach out to clients and stay TOP of mind • Share fresh ideas • Reach out, and reach back • Get TOP Level professional feedback on your marketing and presentation • Change sales calls into RAPPORT calls • Go ALL IN to TOP it off • Attend GAME CHANGERS in April 2024 using discount code EVENT25 Go to: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/workshops/game-changers/