Speeches from Film: Henry V

William Shakespeare wrote many inspirational speeches for his different characters. One of the best known is the St. Crispin’s Day speech delivered by King Henry to his troops in the classic Henry V. To set the stage, prior to the epic battle of Agincourt on 25 October 1415, Henry V had led his army across northern France, seizing Harfleur, Calais […]
Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 58) – Robert Orben

Every speaker has a mouth;An arrangment rather neat.Sometimes it’s filled with wisdom;Sometimes it’s filled with feet. Robert Orben
Leadership Lessons from Robin Sharma

Last week I attended a symposium at the IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland led by Robin Sharma, a globally recognized authority on leadership. Robin is the author of 11 international best-selling books, perhaps most notably The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari and, most recently, The Leader Who Had No Title. It was great to […]
Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 57) – Norman Vincent Peale

“Be interesting, be enthusiastic … and don’t talk too much.” Norman Vincent Peale
Analysis of a Speech by Elizabeth Gilbert

One of my favourite TED Talks is the one given by Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of the international bestseller Eat Pray Love. In her talk, Gilbert speaks about the fears and frustrations of those who pursue a creative life, especially during those moments of angst when the creative juices are not flowing, and offers some advice and […]
Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 56) – Cicero

“In an orator … we demand the acuteness of a logician, the profundity of a philosopher, the diction of a poet, the memory of a lawyer, the voice of a performer in tragic drama, the gestures, you might almost say, of an actor at the very top of his profession. Here, then, are some of […]
The Lighter Side of Public Speaking

Every now and then, it happens. Often, there is no explanation. It catches us unawares. But when it happens, we are almost always powerless to stop it. I’m talking about the giggles – the uncontrollable urge to laugh, precisely when we should not be laughing. The giggles can hit public speakers at anytime. Nobody is […]
Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 55) – Tony Kahn
“When I speak, I speak as if I’m talking to someone I love very dearly, and I am telling them something of great importance. I want them to hear it from me, be it good or bad. And when you hear me, that’s what you hear: me telling someone I love, something very important.” Tony […]
Preparation vs Procrastination

In this blog post from 6 September 2010, Seth Godin raises a question that all public speakers face at one time or another. Am I ready? It’s a fair question. But it can lead to procrastination. Being prepared is one of the most important things that a speaker can do. It helps a presentation run smoothly […]
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