Blog Feed: DeFinis Communications

Does Wisdom Play a Role in Public Speaking?

Published on 2012-05-23 08:52:00

“I have to give a speech in a few weeks and I’m already nauseous and anxious. I need to talk to someone wise. Can you please call me?” This was a voicemail message I received last week from someone obviously in need of help. Every once in a while I get a call like this one, and [...] > read more

To be a Better Presenter, Become a “Consumer of Speaking”

Published on 2012-05-18 08:42:06

The first step to becoming a better public speaker is learning to develop your observational skills. The power of observational learning is well documented by psychologist Albert Bandura, who implemented some of the seminal studies in the area and initiated social learning theory. Just as the name implies, observational learning involves the process of learning [...] > read more

Sometimes for Speeches, the Third Time’s the Charm

Published on 2012-05-08 11:12:10

For the last few weeks I’ve been working with a new client, helping him prepare for a large meeting. He’s already a good speaker—the kind of person who actually likes to prepare (which is always a “gift” for me!). He is creative in his approach to content development and open to using a bit more [...] > read more

Politics and Debate Performance: What to do in a crowded field

Published on 2012-04-26 07:58:30

What do you do when you are one of twelve panel members given just one minute to answer questions in an hour and a half political debate? Which sound bites do you perfect? How do you deliver with just the right amount of information so when you do get the spotlight you perform well? These were [...] > read more

Give Your Presentation Skills a Pilates Workout

Published on 2012-04-23 08:56:22

Joseph Pilates, the man who created and promoted the Pilates method of physical fitness, may not have been a public speaker, but all presenters can still learn a thing or two from him. In the course of his work, Pilates formulated six key principles to improve the quality of your physical strength and endurance. While [...] > read more

How to Be the Highlight of Any Meal: Tips for Making the After Dinner Speech

Published on 2012-04-10 05:49:23

Most presenters shy away from being the one to give an after dinner speech. If you’re not careful, talking when people are full and tired can be a recipe for disaster. Perhaps that’s why Winston Churchill said, “There are two things that are more difficult than making an after-dinner speech: climbing a wall which is [...] > read more

Wednesday for Women: Public Speaking Lessons from Meryl Streep

Published on 2012-03-28 05:45:34

Meryl Streep just won an Oscar for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in the movie The Iron Lady, and in my view she deserves an equally prestigious award for her introduction of Hillary Rodham Clinton at the Women in the World Summit 2012 at Lincoln Center in New York City. I’m a big fan of Meryl [...] > read more

7 Tips for Giving the Perfect Eulogy

Published on 2012-03-20 05:54:47

Recently I attended a memorial celebration of the all-too-short life of one of my husband’s colleagues. Several family members and friends made touching tributes to the deceased, and as I sat in the crowded room I listened to these presentations not as Angela the speech coach, but as a mourner in a community of mourners. Still, [...] > read more

Using Humor in Your Presentation? Here’s a Checklist for Success

Published on 2012-03-05 08:19:13

For the last six months I’ve been working with an accountant in our Executive Immersion program. As his coach, I’ve helped him polish his presentation skills, strengthen his image, project personal presence and build self-confidence. Most recently I helped him prepare for an internal presentation he was giving to five hundred division managers. Today I [...] > read more

Forbes Magazine Releases Their List of the 70 Most Powerful People

Published on 2011-11-08 20:22:34

Last week Forbes Magazine released their list of the 70 Most Powerful People in the World. I admit I was a bit taken back by two key points of their piece: Forbes’ headline declared that of the 7 billion people in the world, these were the 70 “who mattered” Only six of the people mentioned were women According [...] > read more

Guest Blog: A Corporate Speechwriter’s Halloween Tour of Medieval England

Published on 2011-10-30 23:20:43

A veteran speechwriter and executive communications specialist, Ian Griffin helps CEOs and senior managers develop strategic messaging and content for presentations to audiences worldwide. He is Past-President of the Northern California Chapter of the National Speakers Association and an active member of Toastmasters. A version of this article first appeared in Ian’s blog Professionally Speaking. As [...] > read more

Three Women, One Mission: Peace

Published on 2011-10-26 11:45:24

In 1903, two years after the Nobel Foundation was established, a Nobel Prize was awarded to a woman, Marie Curie, for the first time. Women have been winning Nobel Prizes ever since, but in very small numbers compared to their male colleagues. But is the trend possibly turning? It could be, because this year, not [...] > read more

Guest Blog: Lessons from Bethenny Frankel of The Real Housewives of New York City – How to Build Income

Published on 2011-10-24 11:57:13

Got Platform? Part 3 of a Three-part Series: Income Greenleaf Book Group is a publisher and distributor that specializes in the development of independent authors and the growth of small presses. Our publishing model was designed to support the independent author and to make it possible for writers to retain the rights to their work and still [...] > read more

When Passion, Power and Perseverance Combine – You Get Melinda Gates

Published on 2011-10-19 10:36:51

Tracking the philanthropic activities of Melinda Gates is like watching an army of ants build their colony. Yet she is not just the queen; she is also a worker, taking on the roles needed to build the vision, implement the plan and change the world. If you ever think that everything going on in our world [...] > read more

Guest Blog: Lessons from Suze Orman – How to Influence and Connect

Published on 2011-10-17 11:33:05

Got Platform? Part 2 of a Three-part Series: Influence Greenleaf Book Group is a publisher and distributor that specializes in the development of independent authors and the growth of small presses. Our publishing model was designed to support the independent author and to make it possible for writers to retain the rights to their work and still [...] > read more

Part 1 of a Three-part Series: Got Platform?

Published on 2011-10-10 12:55:39

Guest Blog Part 1 of a Three-part Series: Greenleaf Book Group is a publisher and distributor that specializes in the development of independent authors and the growth of small presses. Our publishing model was designed to support the independent author and to make it possible for writers to retain the rights to their work and still [...] > read more

Steve Jobs (1955-2011): It’s Time to Pay Tribute to a Great Visionary

Published on 2011-10-06 16:35:39

Along with the rest of the world, I am mourning the loss of Steve Jobs today. This morning at breakfast I was thinking about the services that will be held to honor his life and wondered who would be giving the eulogy. Imagine being selected to give the eulogy at the funeral services of someone [...] > read more

Wangari Maathai: Honoring a Powerful Female Leader and Speaker

Published on 2011-10-05 05:00:59

A little over a week ago, on September 25th, the world lost a great environmental and political activist, Wangari Muta “Mary Jo” Maathai. For those of you who may not be familiar with her or her work, here’s a small snapshot of her many accomplishments: Founder of the Green Belt Movement, a grassroots tree-planting organization, comprised primarily [...] > read more

Women in the U.S. Senate. 17 Strong…and Hopefully Growing

Published on 2011-09-28 15:42:56

Many bloggers (including myself) often lament the dismal number of women in corporate executive leadership positions. And while those figures are low, have you ever noticed how few women represent us in the United States senate? Here are few shocking facts: Since the establishment of the US Senate in 1789, there have been only 39 female [...] > read more

Are Your Presentation Skills Your Hidden Strength?

Published on 2011-06-29 08:00:59

It’s a man’s world. Do you think this statement is obsolete in 2011? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Consider these sobering facts: Only 12 Fortune 500 companies are run by women, down from 15 last year, as three left their posts and were succe > read more

A Conversation with Ursula Burns, CEO of Xerox…and You’re Invited

Published on 2011-06-22 08:00:20

I just learned that Ursula Burns, CEO of Xerox, will be in the Bay Area next Wednesday (6/29/11) giving a presentation with George Colony, CEO of Forrester Research. And here’s the best part of all: You’re invited to attend (and for a discounted > read more

The Key Factor for Your Presentation’s Success

Published on 2011-06-20 08:00:53

When you’re preparing a presentation, who is the most important person you need to consider? The answer: Your audience. You’ve likely experienced, at least once in your career, what happens when you forget about your audience. Here’s the scenar > read more

Embrace Your Authenticity: It’s the Backbone of Public Speaking Success

Published on 2011-06-15 10:56:08

True, authentic communication is about creating a bond and connection with your listeners, whether you’re talking with one person or one hundred. Unfortunately, displaying authenticity when giving a presentation is a challenge for many women.   F > read more

Refining Your Presentation Skills in a Group Format Works…Especially for Women

Published on 2011-06-08 08:00:59

Women are, by nature, very social beings. This is a good thing in many respects. According to the head of psychiatry at Stanford University, when women spend time with other women, they’re not just having fun; they’re also experiencing many healt > read more

Crisis Management: The Anthony Weiner Way

Published on 2011-06-07 10:49:59

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-New York) got caught in his own web of lies…or perhaps he lied himself into a corner. Either way, his juvenile behavior, coupled with his terrible judgment, left everyone stunned.   During his show, news anchor and politica > read more

Another High-Stakes Presentation: The Wedding Toast

Published on 2011-06-06 13:05:54

June is here, and ‘tis the season…for giving a toast at your best friend, sister, cousin, or mother’s wedding. That’s right, mothers can re-marry later in life, and if you are an adult child, you may be asked to toast your mother. This is exa > read more

Three Influential First Ladies

Published on 2011-06-01 08:00:32

As the old saying goes, “Behind every great man is a great woman.” When it comes to talking about American presidents, nothing could be truer. American presidential history is filled with influential First Ladies who have paved the way fo > read more

Oprah’s Farewell: The Final Ovation for One of the World’s Most Influential Public Speakers

Published on 2011-05-25 14:22:18

Wednesday for Women Celebrates Oprah! Oprah’s legend is…well…legendary. For 25 years, she has been the foundation of daytime TV for millions of people all over the world. And throughout it all, her presence and messages have been uplifting, ins > read more

Speaking With Conviction…Over the Phone

Published on 2011-05-23 10:41:54

I have been working with a recent college graduate who is seeking an entry level job in sales and he is finding that many of the positions available are cold calling, telemarketing positions. While I am not certain that sitting behind a desk, on the > read more

Relationships Shape Women’s Communications

Published on 2011-05-18 02:01:00

Welcome to my Wednesday for Women blog series, where I feature stories, resources and valuable information to help women gain greater influence, power, and confidence in their professional and personal life. Please forward these weekly Wednesday blog > read more

San Francisco’s Bay to Breakers Offers Valuable Public Speaking Lessons

Published on 2011-05-16 13:13:52

Yesterday was the centennial running of the Bay to Breakers foot race. For those of you who have never heard of it, allow me to paint the picture: Over fifty thousand people, a majority of which were dressed in outrageous costumes, took to the street > read more

Powerful Women in Hedge Funds

Published on 2011-05-11 07:59:59

Welcome to my Wednesday for Women blog series, where I feature stories, resources and valuable information to help women gain greater influence, power, and confidence in their professional and personal life. If you’re a man reading this, please enj > read more

How to Create “Enchanting” Relationships

Published on 2011-05-09 12:19:58

The word “enchant” means to cast a spell on or bewitch; to delight or captivate utterly; to fascinate; charm. Guy Kawasaki’s new book, Enchantment, The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds and Actions, has given us a new spin on a more traditional app > read more

The Perfect Retreat

Published on 2011-05-04 15:00:23

This is another installment in my Wednesday for Women blog series, where I feature information to help women gain greater influence, power, and confidence in their professional and personal life. If you’re a man reading this, please enjoy it and th > read more

Steven Tyler’s Rooster Feathers are a High Performance Prop

Published on 2011-05-02 21:30:42

In entertainment, performance, and even public speaking, props play an important role when creating an image or making a key point. Whether your prop is something you hold or something you wear, your audience will connect it to your message, thus mak > read more

Aspiring Women

Published on 2011-04-27 13:37:50

Every Wednesday I’ll be posting a blog geared especially for women. This new blog will feature information to help women gain greater influence, power, and confidence in their professional and personal life. If you’re a man reading this, please e > read more

PowerPoint Lessons at 30,000 Feet

Published on 2011-04-25 13:34:06

I was flying to Houston recently and sat next to a woman who was working on…you guessed it… her PowerPoint presentation. We started up a conversation, and before she knew what I did for a living, she confessed that she really couldn’t take the > read more

How to Make a Great First Impression…on Easter Sunday or Any Day

Published on 2011-04-21 21:09:52

When I was growing up, Easter Sunday was a celebrated occasion, much like it is today. A big part of the fun was dressing up in our new pastel dresses with matching shoes, jewelry and fancy Easter bonnets. To top off our splendid outfits, my father > read more

Listening: A Core Communication Skill

Published on 2011-04-18 13:04:01

I’ve been working with two different clients lately, of two different genders, in two different companies, from two different states who have two entirely different approaches to listening. One client actually listens too intently, and the other do > read more

Samoan Car Thieves, Fiji Water…and Public Speaking?

Published on 2011-04-11 12:42:07

What do Samoan car thieves have to do with public speaking or speech writing? On April 1st I received a phone call from my son.  “You’ll never guess what happened,” he said.  “My car got stolen…again.” Since it was April Fools’ Day, I > read more

Rebecca Black: Public Speaking & Life Lessons from a 13-Year-Old Pop Sensation

Published on 2011-04-06 10:53:44

Have you heard of Rebecca Black yet? If not, you probably will soon. She is a thirteen-year-old girl whose parents hired Ark Music Factory to produce a music video for her. If you haven’t seen it, here it is. But I warn you…while Rebecca is a swe > read more

Need a Remote for Your Next PowerPoint Presentation? There’s an App for That

Published on 2011-03-21 13:19:59

I work with many people who give PowerPoint presentations.  And no matter how experienced they are, invariably a few of them forget to bring (or don’t own) a remote control for advancing their PowerPoint slides.  As such, whenever I’m working w > read more

How to Torture a Telemarketer

Published on 2011-03-14 02:01:15

Listening to my husband on the phone with a telemarketer is like watching a cat play with a mouse. You know the outcome is inevitable, and you can clearly see the mouse dangling limp in the mouth of the satisfied cat. But the process—the swatting b > read more

The Best “San Francisco” Speakers at SXSW

Published on 2011-03-10 16:24:22

Tomorrow begins the twenty-fifth annual South by Southwest (SXSW) interactive media, film and music conference. Nearly 12,000 registrants will invade Austin, TX from March 11th -20th for an all-out entertainment extravaganza. Amidst the product launc > read more

Alltop.com: A Great Resource for Public Speakers

Published on 2011-03-07 14:14:14

One of the biggest frustrations my clients have when preparing a speech is finding those key stories and credible facts that make it come alive. They often reveal that they waste so much time searching for information online that they no longer have > read more

In Honor of Presidents’ Day: Public Speaking Lessons from George Washington

Published on 2011-02-21 16:25:11

Presidents’ Day, also known as George Washington Day, was the first federal holiday to honor an American citizen and was initially celebrated on Washington’s actual birthday, February 22. On January 1, 1971, the federal holiday was shifted to the > read more

In Celebration of Black History Month: The Legacy of Booker T. Washington

Published on 2011-02-16 20:06:51

“The highest test of the civilization of any race is in its willingness to extend a helping hand to the less fortunate. A race, like an individual, lifts itself up by lifting others up.” — Booker T. Washington I became reacquainted > read more

Lady Gaga Gave Us a Valentine’s Day Gift at the Grammy’s

Published on 2011-02-14 19:40:37

I admit that I had never seen Lady Gaga speak until last night when I tuned in to 60 Minutes. And I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. She impressed me with her authenticity, her passion, and her outrageous, relentless confidence. While she ad > read more

A Shocking Secret from a Speech Coach

Published on 2011-02-11 07:00:28

Psst…hey you…yeah, you…do you want to know a secret about someone many people consider one of our country’s greatest public speakers? Okay, here goes…even though he was very eloquent and his words changed history, he often felt pangs of ner > read more

Use the Pareto Principle for More Powerful Presentations

Published on 2011-02-07 22:02:38

The 80/20 Rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, helps explain the power of simplicity. The 80/20 Rule is pervasive in our world. For example: 80% of traffic jams occur on the 20% of roads 80% of beer is consumed by 20% of drinkers 80% of profits > read more

It’s January 31, 2011: Do You Know Where Your New Year’s Resolutions Are?

Published on 2011-01-31 06:00:17

You took the time to think about the areas in your life where you’d like to make changes and you carefully crafted your 2011 New Year’s Resolutions. Maybe you wrote them down, typed them up, put them on your wall, or shared them with your friends > read more

Winning the Future: Reflections on President Obama’s State of the Union Address

Published on 2011-01-26 10:48:20

I love the pomp and circumstance of the State of the Union address. Anytime our leaders gather together to celebrate our history and our future, I am moved and inspired. I was especially so last night as I watched President Obama take control of the > read more

My New Role: Chief Freedom Officer

Published on 2011-01-24 12:02:22

Recently, I attended a business planning workshop with a small group of highly successful business owners. There is something about being in a room all day with entrepreneurs that makes you set very lofty goals. The outpouring of creative energy, inn > read more

A Time to Shine: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Published on 2011-01-18 19:25:09

When you’re looking for powerful material for your next speech—from examples and metaphors to stories and themes—look no further than your own life. In fact, the best content often comes from your personal challenges and tribulations, from your > read more

“…Words Will Never Hurt Me” – Or Will They? What we can learn from the Gabrielle Giffords tragedy

Published on 2011-01-11 14:25:53

Gabrielle Giffords’ mentor, Robert Reich, has said that he believed Gabby would be the first or second female president of the United States. She was a rising star in the Democratic Party and much loved by her constituents in Tucson. Now she is fig > read more