Untitled Document

Looking Marvelous on the Podium

Get glasses that aren't heavy or thick unless you want people to focus on your glasses.
Don’t wear tinted glasses.
A man's shirt collar must fit perfectly.
Bow ties make a certain statement. Make sure it is the statement you want to make.
Don't wear white socks unless you are wearing white shoes and white pants.
Have your socks match your pants or shoes. Don't apologize.
Make sure your pants are zipped up.

Honing Your Skills For Consistently Great Interviews

You get points just for being chosen to be interviewed.
Have fun, live audiences and TV audiences instantly feel it when a presenter is having fun.
Practice, practice, practice.
Learn from friend and foe alike.
Break the rules, but first learn them.
Don't try to survive every interview, try to improve every interview over the last one.

BY TJ Walker

How big of a disaster is it if I can’t answer a question during a Q and A period?

The following comes from TJ Walker’s upcoming book “The Wisdom of Your Audience”. Consistently, the worst advice speakers and presenters get, comes from everyone who is NOT your audience. The following gives examples of some of the WORST advice people are often given. It is followed by the advice of your audience. Listen to them. They are your true judge and jury.

How big of a disaster is it if I can’t answer a question during a Q and A period?

BAD ADVICE

Your Public Relations Director: “You will look like a fool! Here is a briefing book with 129 possible questions you will be asked along with a detailed answer for each one. Please memorize them.”

Your Corporate Legal Counsel: “Say ‘no comment’ as often as possible.”

You: “Holy cr*@! This is my worst nightmare. If I can’t answer questions that come my way I will look like an absolute imbecile! I must cram, cram, cram! This question and answer thing has disaster written all over it.”

***

GOOD ADVICE

Your Audience: “Ya, it’s possible you don’t know the answer to some question. I vaguely remember that happening to some speaker about five years ago. But if you are going to spend your time worrying about potential problems, why not worry about a real problem: you are going to bore us to death because you are planning on doing a boring data dump instead of sharing with us relevant stories about a handful of key messages. Worrying about not answering some hypothetical tough question makes as much sense as a chain-smoking, junk-food-addicted 295 pound couch potato worrying about the dangers of over-exercise. Sure, both could be a problem, but they are pretty low on the list of likely dangers.”

More insights from TJ Walker

TJ in Serbia… (Safe and Sound!)

Two weeks ago TJ Walker was visiting Serbia. Watch the video he recorded just hours before riots broke out.

Bully Pulpits: Speaking Secrets of World Famous Leaders

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To communicate like a true leader you need to tell stories about real people and situations.

SpeakCast Tutorial: Improve Your Communication Skills

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You don't need to be born with super talent to be a star speaker. Watch Speakcast daily so you can be a star speaker.

Publisher: TJ Walker
Managing Editor: Jess Todtfeld
Creative Director : Kris Gentile

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