9 Ways To Make Your Storytelling Better

Eleni KelakosAudience Connection, Confident Speakers, Peak Performance, Performance Techniques, PowerfulConnections, Storytelling, Take the Stage

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 …

To Be A Better Leader, Be A Better Speaker

Eleni KelakosCompany Growth, Confident Speakers, Executive Presence, Performance Techniques, Promotion Tips, Speaking Engagements

Ashok, a mid-level manager and new presence and presentation coaching client, shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “The problem,” he said, “is that in order to be promoted at my company, I need to be able to speak confidently in front of larger and larger groups. But even though I keep being offered opportunities to do it, I turn them down because I’m just so uncomfortable speaking in public. Last week, my boss suggested I give a presentation at a conference that’s coming up, to gain some visibility and credibility. But I found a way to squirm out of it, like …