4 Ways Speakers Can Stay On Time

Eleni KelakosCommunication & Influence, Keynote Speaking Advice, Presentation Skills, Professional Development, Professional Speakers, Professional Tips, Public Speaking, Public Speaking Tips, Speaking Engagements, Strategic Tips

How to Avoid Being a Time Gobbler How to Avoid Being a Time Gobbler -> Have you ever been in the audience when a speaker runs long, pushing the entire program behind schedule? Or maybe you’ve been on stage yourself, caught up in the moment, only to realize you’ve gone well past your allotted time. That’s what I call being a Time Gobbler—and I know the feeling because I was one. Early in my speaking career, I gave a keynote that was supposed to last 50 minutes. But the evening started late, dinner service dragged on, and by the time …

Connect First, Speak Second

Eleni KelakosPeak Performance, Professional Speakers, Professional Tips, Public Speaking, Speaking Engagements

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. …

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 …