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I will never forget the day I went to a continuing legal education presentation and a respected female attorney took off her sandals, sat barefoot in a seat right in front of the first audience member, and gave her presentation. Oh, and she wasn’t wearing a suit either – just a... Read More →

How do you get ready for a speech? Do you get right to it, or does that library errand or long-neglected household chore suddenly seem like it just won’t wait? You’re not alone. I just read this in The Onion, a satirical publication that makes fun of all sorts of... Read More →

Creating an outline can help you in several ways, but perhaps the most importantis this: A well-crafted outline is all you need at the lectern to deliver a winning presentation. A truly well organized outline will allow you to sail through your speech without a hitch. There are... Read More →

Simply put, there are many ways to organize thoughts, ideas and themes.  Pick an organizational pattern that is right for your presentation.  Here are a few choices:  Sequential/chronological: Does your presentation move through a series of points that can be organized in a... Read More →

This month we’ve been going over the raw materials that you will build a speech or presentation from. These are the elements that you will bring together, like the ingredients in a recipe, and so I’ve been talking about some basic guidelines to consider when you’re beginning to... Read More →

Wrapping up our look at the support materials for legal professionals, here are a few things to consider about citing a case, quoting statutes or legal opinions.   4 unbreakable rules about quoting cases This may be self explanatory but it still has to be mentioned:  There... Read More →

We’ve been focusing in on some things to consider about the materials anyone can use to build a winning presentation, but for the next two posts I want to pay some attention to legal professionals, since support materials are especially important in legal matters. Today,... Read More →

My cousin Bobby, he can tell a joke. I envy him. Me, not so much. I can’t always remember the punch line. Which, you might not be surprised, is a joke-killer. So, in my presentations, I don’t start with a joke. If you can tell a joke, however, it can be one of the best ways to... Read More →

It goes without saying that a Q&A session occurs at the end of most speeches, unless there are time constrictions. Most speakers welcome a chance to hear how their message went over and clarify any areas of uncertainty. But just as obviously, you don’t usually want that... Read More →

When you’re gathering material for a your presentation, don’t overlook the potential of quotes, interviews and articles to help support and advance your points. It adds credibility if done well, and can also reinforce your message with a touch of humor, humanity or... Read More →