Blog - presence and presentation mastery by Eleni Kelakos

Communication Skills

The Power of Genuine Human Connection | Presence & Compassion in Action

Genuine human connection… I knew something was wrong the moment she crumpled into the plastic airport lounge chair across from me. Her eyes were red and swollen. A crumpled tissue trembled in her hand. But the real giveaway was the crisply folded American flag in a clear plastic case that rested on her lap like a sacred relic. Every now and then, she’d hug it like it was alive. Without knowing the full story, I could feel it: deep, aching grief. I told myself to give her space. Let her be. Don’t interfere. But then, she ended a phone call

April 14, 2025 No Comments

Audience Engagement

How to Handle Presentation Mishaps with Confidence

You’re mid-speech, in the zone—and then it happens. You trip, forget your next line, or knock your water over. Welcome to the world of presentation mishaps, where even seasoned pros take a tumble. Literally. I once fell off a raised stage in front of 300 dental professionals. While adjusting to new glasses and feeling fired up, I stepped too close to the edge and—boom! Down I went. Skirt flying, limbs flailing. Graceful? Not even close. The crowd gasped. I popped up, raised a hand, and said, “I’m good! Nothing’s broken—except maybe my ego!” We all laughed, the tension eased, and

April 5, 2025 No Comments

Author

Why Every Speaker Should Write a Book

Why every speaker should write a book: In just a few weeks, I’ll be releasing my third book, Charismatic Presence: 5 Principles of Magnetic Presentations. It’s been a long and sometimes bumpy road getting here—but this book, born from 20+ years of coaching speakers and leaders, feels like the crown jewel of my trilogy. Writing while juggling my work as a keynote speaker, coach, and trainer wasn’t easy. There were days when inspiration flowed… and others when I wanted to throw my keyboard out the window. But I stayed the course. And now, it’s almost here. This milestone has me

April 5, 2025 No Comments

Peak Performance

Managing Public Speaking Anxiety: Even Pros Get Nervous

When I Thought I Had 45 Minutes to Speak… But Actually Had 15 I just got back from an incredible weekend in San Diego, where I joined fellow authors and entrepreneurs at IndieBooks International’s Agency Rainmaker Forum. I laughed, I learned, I connected—and yes, I had my own little moment of self-inflicted chaos. Here’s how to manage public speaking anxiety. I Was Ready. Or So I Thought. As a proud faculty member, I was given a speaking slot to preview my upcoming book, Charismatic Presence: Five Principles for Magnetic Presentations (coming April 24th!). I’d been prepping for weeks. I even

April 5, 2025 No Comments

Audience Connection

9 Ways To Make Your Storytelling Better

I recently had the honor of serving as a judge at the National Speakers Association of Michigan’s Last Story Standing competition. Eleven competitors took the stage, each putting their unique spin on the timeless art of storytelling. Their tales made us laugh, cry, think, and, above all, feel. As I watched and listened, I thought—probably for the millionth time—”Dang! There is nothing more powerful than a great story well told!” A Legacy of Storytelling If I love storytelling, it’s because it runs in my blood. My paternal grandmother, Yiayia Kelakos, was the designated griot—or storykeeper—in her small Greek village. She

March 11, 2025 No Comments

Leadership

Listen and Really Hear

I rushed into a restaurant, flustered and overwhelmed, caught in the whirlwind of a hectic day, week, and month. As I approached the host stand, I quickly mentioned that I was meeting a friend for lunch. The host glanced at his seating chart and replied, “We haven’t seated any parties of one. It looks like you’re the first to arrive; why don’t I have your waitress show you to a table?” Without processing his words, I instinctively responded, “I’ll go look for my friend,” and bolted into the dining room, scanning for her familiar face. But after a quick look

February 7, 2025 No Comments

Leadership

Harness The Pre-Performance Power of Music

Have you ever heard a song that instantly transported you back to a specific time, place, and feeling? That happened to me the other day while listening to a classic rock station in my car. Suddenly, Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog” blasted through the speakers: “Hey hey mama, said the way you move, gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove…” In an instant, I was no longer behind the wheel—I was a twelve-year-old kid again, gleefully slamming wooden spoons like drumsticks onto chair cushions in my childhood home. The years between then and now simply vanished. Music has that kind

February 4, 2025 No Comments

Coaching

Like Peas & Carrots, Speaking & Leading Go Together

One of the most frequent questions I’m asked is, “Do high-level leaders really need to be great speakers?” As a presence, presentation, and performance coach with over two decades of experience working with senior executives, my answer is a resounding, “Yes!” Like peas and carrots, speaking and leading go hand in hand. If you want to lead your team at the highest level, you must bring an equally high level of poise, presence, and performance to your communications. That said, the better question might be: “Are high-level leaders always great speakers?” My answer? “No.” The Reality of Leadership and Communication

January 17, 2025 No Comments

Peak Performance

Connect First, Speak Second

Tariq was next on the list to give a presentation during my day-long training. He was nervous but excited. As soon as his feet hit the podium, he began speaking, spitting out a barrage of words. Within thirty seconds, he was gasping for breath. Meanwhile, we, the audience, were struggling to keep up and connect with him. I stopped him mid-sentence. “Tariq,” I said, “I want you to stand in silence for a moment so you can get your adrenaline under control. Quietly observe the emotions you’re experiencing. Ground yourself by feeling the floor under your feet. Inhale … exhale.

January 10, 2025 No Comments