Successful Speaking for Technical Professionals

“Before you marry a person, you should first make them use a computer with slow Internet service to see who they really are.” — Will Ferrell, comedian and actor

Two weeks ago, my wife, Elaine, and I moved to Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, just outside of Charleston.  We loved living in Northern Virginia, but we wanted to move to a warmer climate.  

We weren’t disappointed.  The beaches, the Cha...

“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”— Sun Tzu from The Art of War,

My wife, Elaine, and I recently moved from Northern Virginia to the Charleston, South Carolina, area.  To say our move was chaotic is an understatement.  The packing, moving, and unpacking (which is still ongoing) were and are stressful.

This chaos of moving to another state got me thinking about the chaos that speakers have ...

“People don’t want perfect; they want real.” – Modern audience engagement trend

Excellent public speakers keep up with the latest audience trends.

This podcast explores three audience trends for which public speakers should take advantage.

References

• Gallo, C. (2022). The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman. St. Martin’s Press.
  Discusses how tech-savvy lead...

“What you do for yourself dies with you. What you do for others is immortal.” — Albert Pike, attorney and writer

On this Memorial Day, it is proper to remember those who have given their lives so we may enjoy our freedom. 

Memorial Day in the United States began as a way to honor and remember soldiers who died in military service, particularly those who died during the Civil War, both Union and Confederate.

Thos...

“It’s not the words that count, but the moment you made them feel something.” — Nancy Duarte, CEO of Duarte, Inc., and author of Resonate

A compelling and under-discussed topic for public speakers is the power of micro-moments – how small interactions shape audience perception.

These micro-moments have a significant effect on engagement with your audience. 

In this week's podcast episode, we will dis...

“If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend six sharpening my axe.”
— Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States

In my weekly articles, I have extensively discussed how to create, practice, and deliver presentations. However, I have not often discussed what you should do before you create your presentation.

Before creating your presentation, you should take three essential preparatory st...

“If you listen to your audience, they will tell you what you need to know.” — Lee Clow, American advertising executive, best known for creating the iconic “1984” Apple Macintosh commercial.

Speakers often consider what their audience can learn from them. Have you ever considered how much you can learn from your audience?

This podcast episode explores three ways you can learn from your audience.

References

“When you position your customer [or audience] as the hero and yourself as the guide, you win the day.” -  Donald Miller in his book Building a StoryBrand 2.0: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen

Donald Miller’s book, Building a StoryBrand 2.0: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen(Harper Collins Leadership, 2025), discusses making your client the hero of your interaction. You are the guide w...

“Ideas are worthless unless you can make them heard.” — Phil Cooke, media consultant and speaker

You were immersed in engineering or scientific matters in your engineering school or school of science. 

You then work in industry or government where you want to practice engineering and science.

Somewhere along the way, hopefully early, you realize you must “sell” your ideas to get ahead. It comes as a ...

“Champions don’t do extraordinary things. They do ordinary things better than everyone else.” – Tony Dungy, former NFL player and coach, best known for leading the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl win

Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers football team, on taking over as head coach of the Packers, said, “I am not going to change anything. We will use the same players, the same p...

“The worst part of holding the camera up to speak is knowing that no one is really there to nod or smile back at you.” — Unknown

This week, my son Frank returned from a six-month Navy submarine deployment. He is a nuclear officer on the USS Indiana fast-attack submarine. My wife Elaine and I are very proud of him for defending our great country.

I thought about how my son and the other sailors on his boat must feel ...

“Everybody wants to win. However, there are few people who want to prepare to win.” - Paul “Bear” Bryant, legendary coach of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team

Today’s professional speakers face several challenges that can impact their effectiveness and career growth. 

Here are three key concerns of today’s professional speakers and how to address them:

_______________________...

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker, renowned management consultant, educator, and author,

As a professional speaker, you must manage various business aspects to build and sustain your career. 

We will examine three key business matters for you as a professional speaker in this podcast episode.

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References

• According to insights in Book More Business, ...

“Everyone who got where they are had to begin where they were.” – Richard Paul Evans, American author best known for writing The Christmas Box

As a speaker, you may often experience imposter syndrome, a psychological phenomenon in which you doubt your abilities and fear being exposed as a fraud despite evidence of your competence. 

In this episode, we will examine three key reasons why you may feel like an impo...

“Of all the talents bestowed upon men, none is so precious as the gift of oratory. He who enjoys it wields a power more durable than that of a great king.” -- Winston Churchill, British statesman, military officer, and writer who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 (during the Second World War) and again from 1951 to 1955.

In this world of accelerating technological speed, it would be good if we st...

"The future of public speaking is not about a solitary orator on a stage—it's a dynamic interplay between technology and human connection, where immersive digital experiences bring audiences closer than ever before." – Will Higham, behavioral futurist, author, and speaker known for exploring emerging trends in communication

It is hard to imagine the transformation in speaking in store for us as we speak.

This transformati...

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” — Walt Disney, American animator, film producer, voice actor, and entrepreneur

Self-motivation, overcoming obstacles, and becoming a better leader are crucial for public speakers.

They directly influence your ability to engage audiences, inspire action, and maintain effectiveness over time. 

In this episode, you will discover why each of these areas is...

“A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.” – William Arthur Ward, American inspirational writer

In the hit cartoon movie Madagascar, there is a group of talking penguins led by “the Skipper.” One of the penguins asks, “Skipper, don’t you think we should tell them the boat’s out of gas?” The Skipper simply says, “Nah! Smile and wave, boys. Smile and wave.”

As...