This Annoys Intelligent People

Do NOT start your presentation with this trashy opening, “How is EVERYBODY today?” After the audience responds the speaker yells, “I can’t HEAR you!”

It’s insincere, manipulative and offensive.

The old “motivational speakers” used to do this (some still do) and it was corny then. It’s even more offensive today.

If you want to connect with your audience treat them with respect. Just imagine having coffee with a friend. He asks, “How are you today?” After you answer he prods you with, “IS THAT THE BEST YOU CAN DO?”

Join the US Marines and they demand that you yell everything – “YES SIR”

If you want to connect with people – treat them like equals – not marine recruits for your drill sergeant.

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Pursuit of the Perfect Presentation

It doesn't exist. It will never happen. You won’t deliver the perfect presentation. However you can deliver a successful presentation that is less than perfect.

Success should be your goal – not perfection. Success is achievable.

Define the success of every presentation you plan to deliver in terms of this three part question.

What do you want people to think, feel or do as a result of your presentation?

The purpose of your presentation is to move people. If you did – it was successful. Don’t waste your effort on chasing perfect – simply move people in the direction that you want.

Define success before you create your presentation and you will avoid tangents. Be clear on your definition of success while presenting and you will stay on target. Most importantly if you know what’s important you are more likely to get to your destination.

Don’t fret about perfection. Focus on success. Don't work for a perfect 10.

What do you want people to think, feel or do?

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An Unconventional Guide to Public Speaking - video

This short video offers some practical insights about public speaking in a funny deliver. - enjoy



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The Shocking Truth About What Your Teachers Told You About Answering Questions

How to Answer Questions in Business Presentations: Your Teachers Lied to You

If you remember your school teachers you probably recall a few favorites and some ogres. Most of them meant well but they gave you bad advice when it comes to you delivering a business presentation.

It was elementary and later high school where we were indoctrinated with the rules of answering questions. Some of those rules are misguided. You might need to break your blind obedience to these rules.

Lie #1: Never start a sentence with “Because”

It is grammatically correct to start a sentence with the word “because”. Your teachers simply wanted you to include a little more thinking and preamble into your reply so they lied to you.

Ignore this rule and feel free to start a sentence with “Because”. If it helps, recall the Beatles song, “Because” which starts with the phrase, “Because the world is round, it turns me on.”

Lie #2: You must answer the question now

No, you don’t. There might be times during your presentation when questions are simply interruptions. You don’t need to answer the question if that disrupts your message. I’m not saying you should ignore the question. Just be aware of the whole environment and flow of your presentation. Perhaps you nod at the person to acknowledge their request or you might simply say, I’ll take your questions in a few minutes.

Lie #3: You must answer the question

This is the most shocking truth that might be most difficult to believe. You don’t need to answer the question that was asked - at all.

You don’t need to answer it:

If it was a trap question:

When did you stop beating your dog?

If it was an attack question:

Do you deny that you stole from the treasury?

If it was a frivolous question:

Boxers or briefs?

How can you deal with these?

Remain calm and say:

• Next question please.
• Let’s move on to serious issues.
• Please don’t waste our time with ridiculous questions.
• The topic today is ...
• The real question is ...

Lie #4: Look me in the eye when you answer my question

If you are talking to one person, follow this rule because you will look more believable.

However, when talking to a committee or an audience you are always talking to many even if one person asks most of the questions. Everyone in the room is listening to your answers and evaluating you. While answering a question in a group setting, make eye contact with a few people while delivering your answer to include them all in the conversation. After you have answered the question, look confidently back at the person who asked the question.

If you are questioned by a lawyer in a courtroom, look at the judge or jury while answering the question. They are the decision makers.

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Better Name for PowerPoint?

Don’t be fooled by the name. There is no implied or real power in PowerPoint. It’s just a clever name. Would so many presenters have been as easily seduced if the product was named FoolsPoint, LoserPoint or BoringPoint?

PowerPoint is software that is easy to use. So, many presenters make the mistake of relying on the software instead of preparing an effective presentation. The next mistake they make is assuming that the PowerPoint slides are the presentation, so they don’t bother to improve their own presentation skills. They expect the software to present for them.

Microsoft put one over the whole presentation world by naming it PowerPoint.

So, let's have some fun and suggest a realist name for the scurge "once known as PowerPoint".


George Torok

PowerPoint Sins

SlideShare Presentations


Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.

What’s the difference between a speaker’s bio and an introduction?

Many people don’t realize the difference and often say bio when they mean introduction. And many non-professional speakers mistakenly supply their bio as an introduction.

There is a big difference between these two documents in their purpose and hence their form. Function always drives form.

Speaker Bio
The speaker’s bio (biography) is meant to be read silently. It is printed in the program and meant to impress readers with the credentials of the speaker and attract them to attend the presentation. The bio in it’s worst form looks and feels like a resume. The bio could easily be a full page or several hundred words.

Do not read the speaker’s bio to the audience. It will usually be boring. Not the right start to a presentation.

Speaker Introduction
The speaker's introduction is meant to be heard by the audience just before he starts to speak. It is meant to serve as an introduction to the presentation as delivered by this speaker.

The purpose of a good introduction is to get the audience interested in the topic and confirm the speaker as the best choice for this topic. After a good introduction the audience should feel eager to hear the speaker present on this topic. Also the speaker will feel welcomed by the introduction and audience reaction.

The ideal introduction would have 3 short paragraphs. The first one introduces the topic. The second reminds people why the topic is so important. The third one highlights the reason this speaker is qualified to speak on the topic. This third paragraph will be a selection of the most interesting points from the speaker’s bio. Print the introduction in large type double spaced to make it easier for the introducer to read.

It should take between 30 to 60 seconds for the introducer to read. Anything longer is wasting time. Don't put people to sleep before the speaker starts.

The more prominent the speaker, the shorter the introduction can be. For example “Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States”. The bio would be quite different from the introduction.

If you are the speaker, be sure to talk with your introducer before the introduction and ensure that she has the correct pronunciation of your name.

A bio is like a history report. An introduction opens new relationships.

Read "How to Introduce Your Guest Speaker"


George Torok

Motivational Business Speaker

Presentation Skills Coaching


Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives

Yadda, yadda yadda and other annoying phrases

What annoying phrases from popular culture are speakers over-using in their presentations?
For example: I heard one speaker say "yadda, yadda, yadda" three times within 30 - minutes.

Here are a few replys from other speakers.


I am tired of hearing speakers say "Let me un pack this for you". This causes a mental shut down...

Sandra Vogel, PhD
International Trainer, facilitator and speaker with e-learning and bundled learning solutions.


Ah... you pressed a button here! So, well, you know, it's like it's sorta, kinda, basically a bit like this. Note that the last sentence conveys no definite statement of fact or emotion whatsoever. If you listen actively, you'll hear that a lot of people simply fail to produce coherent, crisp sentences, even when they are "trained" public speakers. In my own language it would be the endemic use of "zeg maar" which has infested everyday speech. It's our equivalent of "like" or "sorta". Even seasoned public speakers (the prime minister comes to mind) use it.

Martijn Sjoorda
Research Director, FreshOrange


This is GREAT! I reference these over-used phrases in my keynote/seminars. A personal pet peeve of mine is: "SO, How many of you have ever....?' as an opener. It's okay to open with a question, but unless the energy in the room is already peaked, the audience usually does not want to raise their hands at the beginning of a presentation. Feel free to add the contrite: Synergize, monetize, bring to the table, reinvent the wheel, carve out a niche, core competencies, low hanging fruit, deliverables, action items, and...GAZILLIONS more. There is actually a "buzzword" game to play during executive meeitngs that lists many of these. It's FUN!

James Hamilton
Corporate Speaker, Author, Connections expert


Just yesterday, I heard a speaker say, "Well, at the end of the day..." three times within a 20 minute talk. It's quickly moving to the top of the overused cliches list.

Mandi Stanley
Certified Speaking Professional at Mandi Stanley Speaker Services


Moving forward, going forward..what other direction would we go in? It is definitely overused not just in speeches but in everyday conversation.

Sue Birkam
Owner, Freedom Life Coaching, LLC


I’m not as bothered by the new buzzwords/phrases because they come and go. What drives my crazy is "irregardless". I am also guilty of using the following "they may or may not...." well that doesn’t really narrow it down does it. It’s like saying it "may or may not rain..." although 100% correct it has not moved us any closer to valuable information. I also not a big fan of anything that comes after a phrase such as "my granddaddy used to say..." It’s always some hokey, folk wisdom designed to cut through the clutter of today’s sophisticated jargon and get back to the basics. However, I guess if you are Zig Ziglar and your persona is based on being folksy it works. OK, for the record I have used every one of these except irregardless. Maybe there is a speaker’s anonymous program I can join

Mike Smithgall
Digital Media Sales Consultant at Jacksonville.com


I coach my clients to put the following lines into storage... —"Let's take it to the next level..." —"You may of heard of Harry Truman"...-(DUH!--the device of saying "you may have heard of" is very tired way of trying to engage people's minds) —"Let's drill down on that for a moment..." —"I just want to be clear..." —"My friends..." (sorry Mr. McCain) —"Here are some of the funny things kids have said to God..." (good grief--we all own computers) —"(tear in voice) I'm sorry, I always get emotional when I tell that story..." That's the very short list! There's a book in there for one of us...

Doug Lawrence
Public Speaking Coach, Speech Writer, and Presentation Advisor


I have 2 verbal peeves. The first is "to be perfectly honest". Is there an imperfect way to be honest? If there is someone please let me in on it. The other is "can I be honest with you?" My visceral response -- No, please continue to lie to me.

Olalah Njenga
Marketing Strategist


George Torok
Speech Coach for Executives
Presentation Skills Training

Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.

Video: Busting the Mehrabian Myth

The "7% 38% 55%" rule often gets misrepresented by "communication experts" who didn't do their homework. This short video puts a refreshing view on the work of Albert Mehrabian.

Hint: Yes Mehrabian did report those numbers - but he never said that they represent the message or communication. He was measuring likeability.

Enjoy the video.


Albert Mehrabian's Website

Silent Messages - the book in which Mehrabian published his famous numbers.

Read my post about this myth from August 2006.


George Torok
Presentation Skills Coaching
The Speech Coach for Executives


Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.

Cliches suck

Cliches Suck

They suck the life out of your presentation. They sap the energy from your words. They sink your message.


If you are using these phrases - stop now.

Raise the bar
Level the playing field
The whole nine yards
Paradigm shift
Think outside the box
Yada, yada, yada
Kill two birds with one stone
Been there done that


Here are three sites with more cliches that you should avoid like the plague.

Cliches from the Garden

Cliche Finder

Cliche Site


Using cliches in your presentation demonstrates lack of original thinking. They bore your audience to tears because they've heard it a million times before.

George Torok
Executive Speech Coach
Presentation Skills Training



Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.

Step away from that PowerPoint or someone might get hurt

Step away from that PowerPoint or someone might get hurt


It’s 2009. PowerPoint Presentations gotta change – or else.

How did we let this happen? How did we let PowerPoint ruin so many presentations?

Apparently, PowerPoint first appeared on the Mac in 1987 and on the PC in 1990. That was around the time that the Berlin Wall fell. Depending on your frame of reference PowerPoint is about 10 years old. So you’d think that we’d have gotten over the novelty of it by now. You’d think that more normally intelligent people would scream in protest, “Either fix it or stop using PowerPoint!”

In this case, “Fix it” refers to the presentation – not the software. In 2009 the presenters who shine will change their approach to the design and delivery of their presentation.

We can understand the novelty factor in the beginning. But how did so many people get seduced by the PowerPoint narcotic for close to a decade? How did we let the word “presentation” become synonymous with “PowerPoint”? I believe that the answer lies in the fact that PowerPoint is software that an idiot can use it. Unfortunately when normally intelligent people use PowerPoint they seem to check their brains at the door.

It’s easy and quick to type your presentation notes into PowerPoint then read them to your audience. Most of us are lazy most of the time so you can see the attraction. In today’s fast paced world many of us are seduced by the pleasure of the moment versus investing our limited resources now for a better long term result.

The first thing that presenters need to do, in 2009, is to ask these important questions before creating their presentation.

What’s the purpose of your presentation? What do you want your audience to do because of your presentation?

What message do you want to deliver that will help you achieve that purpose?

What tools should you use to deliver that message in the most effective way? Consider the presentation tools you might

If PowerPoint is one of those tools, how can you make the best use of the visual aspect of PowerPoint? (Images are visual. Words on a screen are not visual. Those are processed by different areas of our brain.)

When selecting your images how will you find images that don’t look like everyone else’s presentation? Don’t use clipart. You can design your own charts, take photos with your camera, hire a sketch artist or use images from a stock photo site like http://www.bigstockphoto.com/. I like this one because:
1) they have over 2 million images searchable by category and key words,
2) the images only cost between $1 and $2 and,
3) each image shows the number of times it has been purchased so you can avoid the overused ones.

How will you make the best use of your most important presentation resources? That includes your voice, vocabulary, body language, personality and delivery style. Those are the things that make you unique. If those things need improvement, what will you do to improve them?


Are you ready to deliver better presentations in 2009?

George Torok

PS: This post was inspired by Olivia Mitchell at Speaking about Presenting

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Power Presentation Tip 08: No Jokes

Power Presentation Tips 08: No Jokes - no kidding


Beware of that ancient book that suggests you start your presentation with a joke. Don't do that. No jokes please. Jokes don't fit anywhere in a business presentation.

Why?

Three reasons:

1. You are not a comic.
Stand up comedy is very difficult to deliver well. It takes skill and a lot of practice. And still the great comics tell jokes that bomb. You don't have their skill or resilience. And when your joke bombs the audience is scratching their heads wondering, "What was that all about?"

2. Relevance.
In most cases the joke has nothing to do with your presentation. So even if it turns out funny your audience is still left scratching their heads and wondering, "What was that all about?"

3. You are not Don Rickles.
Most jokes make fun of somebody else. Don't make fun of your audience. They will not like you for it. Don't make fun of some other group. Some of your audience will feel uncomfortable or embarrassed about your prejudice. And they will not like or trust you.

You can still make them laugh
However, you should use humor. And the best person to make fun of is you. Tell a funny story about something silly that you did.

The audience will warm up to you for two reasons: One, because you made them laugh or smile. Two, because you revealed a flaw. This demonstrates that you are imperfect - like them. And we like those who are like us - especially those who share our flaws and pain.

It is more important for the story to make your point than it is to be funny. Watch for more on story telling and other humor techniques in future Power Presentations Tips.

No jokes. Instead reveal a flaw. The audience will like and trust you more when they see themselves in you.

George Torok
Business Speaker
Presentation Skills Training
Canadian Motivational Speaker


PS: Tell me how this tip helps you.


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Presentation Skills Training

Presentation Skills Training

When you want a presentation skills coach or trainer - look for a presentation skills trainer who has suffered. You will learn more from a presentation skills trainer who struggled to be the expert than you would from one was born to speak.

Superman can't teach you how to be super. He was born that way. He is from the planet Kypton.

Batman can teach you alot. He's human. He has no super powers. He learned how and trained to be in the same league as Superman.

George Torok wasn't a natural born speaker. He is an introvert by nature. He was a shy person in high school. He wanted to be high school president but was too afraid to be deliver a presentation to the high school assembly. So he never became high school president. Yet three decades later he is a professional speaker, radio show host and executive speech coach. He got there not because of talent - but because of learned skills.

That's why he is such a good presentation skills trainer and coach.

George Torok

Presentations Skills Training

Executive Speech Coach

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Presentation Skills - not talent

Presentation Skills – not talent
Bad News and Good News – it’s not about talent.

If you are a good presenter and don’t know why – beware.

If you are a poor presenter and want to get better – take heart.

The reason is the same for both. Good presenters are skillful presenters – not talented presenters.

The ability to deliver good and great presentations is based on using presentation skills. Skills can be learned and honed. All it takes is study, practice and training.

If you want to be a better presenter, understand the principles, practice the techniques, and get expert coaching. That’s how the best in any field get to be the best and stay there. Just ask Tiger Woods.

Over the years I have met many fabulous presenters. I have not met one yet who claimed to be a natural born presenter. I am a top notch professional presenter and executive speech coach. Yet I was not a natural born presenter. I can tell you stories of my own frustration along the journey. I invested time, effort and money to become a great presenter. I read books, took seminars and listened to tapes and CDs. To get better I studied and analyzed hundreds of presenters. I received advice, coaching and mentoring from the best that I could find. And I haven’t finished yet.

How about you? It's not about where you start. Where do you want to be?

If you want to improve your presentations – improve your presentation skills.


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George Torok

Presentation Skills Training
Speech Coaching
Boardroom Presentations

Presentation Tip - Speaking to the seven dwarfs

Presentation Tip – Speaking to the seven dwarfs


Every member of your audience is different. You can’t treat them the same and expect the same reaction from all of them.

You must be prepared to connect on different levels and receive different reactions to your presentation.

Consider this challenge. Imagine that you are presenting to the seven dwarfs. You might be tempted to think that they are all the same because they are all dwarfs and all working in the same industry. Think again.

Consider these possible very different reactions to your presentation.


Dopey - the youngest, sweetest, and silliest of the seven
Dopey will like you no matter what you do or say – even though he does not understand you. He might ask silly questions or make silly jokes to suggest that he supports you. But he doesn’t have a clue.


Grumpy - the grouchiest and most curmudgeonly of the group
It’s just his way. He is still devoted to the group and the cause but he feels that it is his responsibility to point out the down side of things. He is not going to let you make an easy sale. He will test you and challenge you. No malice intended. It’s the principle.


Doc – he wears glasses (so presumably the most intellectual)
He will listen for the logic of your content. He will not be impressed by your jokes or entertainment. Will listen intently and make some notes. Might even ask some probing questions.


Happy - the most rotund of the dwarfs
He is happy to be anywhere with a group. He will smile, laugh and applaud. Will take few notes. For him this is a gathering and gatherings are to be enjoyed.


Bashful - evokes his bashful nature through a classic pose of shyness (hands clasped behind back, shoulders slightly raised, eyes upturned)
Does not want to be engaged – “Don’t pick me”. He feels safe when in the group but not in front of it. Won’t ask questions, won’t volunteer and prefers not to be centered out.


Sneezy – often sneezing or preparing to do so
Health or allergies causes him to be coughing or sneezing – always at the wrong times. It’s not intentional. It just is.


Sleepy - he wears a perpetually sleepy look
Was he up too late or is he ill. Did he just work a double shift? It doesn’t matter because he is yawning or dozing during your presentation. You might feel insulted by his obvious lack of interest.


So you are presenting and not everyone loves or even likes you. Get over it - you could be presenting to the seven dwarfs.


George Torok

Executive Speech Coach

Presentation Skills Training

Corporate Spokesperson

You don't have a presentation

You don’t have a presentation


As I prepared to deliver my presentation I told the AV guy that he could turn off the computer projector – that I would not use PowerPoint.

His response was, “Oh you don’t have a presentation.”

I grinned at him and said, as I pointed at my head, “Oh yes I do, and it is all in here.”

Isn’t it funny how some people equate presentation with PowerPoint. I guess that congratulations are due to Microsoft on the power of their marketing. Microsoft has trained a generation of managers that believe that presentation = PowerPoint. Poor managers and especially poor presentation prisoners.

Many PowerPoint presentations are so bad. It is often just the speaker’s notes on the screen. Sometimes the PowerPoint is the speaker’s presentation – word for word.

A good presentation is about connecting with your audience, about delivering stories and about moving them to action. PowerPoint does none of those things. I’m sure that if George Orwell imagined the possibility of PowerPoint he would have included it in his novel of Big Brother’s torture “1984”. Dante’s Inferno would have surely included a gate in hell marked “PowerPoint”. You belong there if you commit the PowerPoint Sins.

My question to you – do you have a presentation or do you have a PowerPoint?


George Torok

Speech Coach for Executives

Presentation Skills Training

Motivational Speaker

Imagine a Presentation without PowerPoint

Imagine a Presentation without PowerPoint

What? You’re giving a presentation without PowerPoint! Are you crazy?

That might be the reaction you would hear if you announced that you were planning to deliver your next presentation without the crutch of PowerPoint.

PowerPoint is a presentation tool for presenters who want their notes on the screen. Why know your presentation when you can read it from the screen? Most presenters might as well warn their audience at the beginning of their presentation. “Hi, I couldn’t be bothered to practice and learn my presentation so I’m just going to read the words on the screen to you. And I hope that you won’t notice that I am insulting you by reading what you see.”

How do you feel when the presenter reads the words on the screen to you?

Do you think, “Wow, what a great presenter. He can read the same words that I see on the screen.”?

Or do you think, “Why is this speaker treating us like children?”

PowerPoint is an easy-to-use presentation software. It’s so easy to use that it makes people stupid. They forget to ask, “What is the best way to get my message across?” They fail to ask, “Should I use PowerPoint for me presentation?” Instead they act like Borg drones, “If I deliver a presentation we must use PowerPoint. Resistance is futile.” I salute Microsoft and the power of their marketing.

It’s funny what people get used to. How easy we accept mediocrity. When I presented at a conference in Vancouver this week I instructed the AV guy to turn off the computer projector because I won’t use it. His response was, “Oh, you don’t have a presentation?”

Isn’t that curious that he equated presentation with PowerPoint.

I laughed while pointing to my head and said, “Of course I have a presentation and it’s in here. It won't get lost and it won’t break down.”

PowerPoint is a presentation crutch for handicapped presenters. It doesn’t make them better presenters. It emphasizes their handicap.

Presentation does not equal PowerPoint.


George Torok
Speech Coach for Executives
Business Presentation Skills Training

Avoid the PowerPoint Sins

PowerPoint is a registered trademark of Microsoft
Any comments about PowerPoint on this blog are not endorsed by Microsoft and are the opinions of this blogger.

Think on your Feet

Think on your Feet

Do you wish that you could think on your feet? Have you considered that it might not be a good idea to think on your feet? My advice to you is that you should not think on your feet.

I repeat – you should NOT think on your feet.

You should speak on your feet – but you should not think on your feet. Why? Because people who attempt to think on their feet usually do not think – they simply speak on their feet without thinking.

Many people who attempt to think on their feet often embarrass themselves because they speak without thinking. Speakers who you believe to be thinking on their feet are simply finding familiar patterns and selecting from past experience or prepared statements. That’s the secret.

Please do not think on your feet. Instead, you should think before you speak on your feet.

How do you avoid thinking on your feet? Prepare. Consider all the possible questions and interruptions before you speak. If you think before you speak, when you stand up to speak all you need to do is select on your feet. Select from the possible outcomes that you previously considered and select from the responses that you rehearsed.

Most people are not good at thinking on their feet. But it is a lot easier to select (multiple choice) on your feet. If you have thought about possible questions and possible answers before you speak then it is simply a matter of selecting from the options that you already prepared.

The best speakers and negotiators plan for all the possible issues before they speak. Think and rehearse before you speak. Then when you stand up to speak you don’t need to think on your feet. You can speak and select on your feet.

Thinking before you get on your feet will result in far more successful presentations for you.

Think – rehearse – stand – then speak.

Do not think on your feet.


George Torok
Business Speaker
Speech Coach for Executives
Presentation Skills Trainer

Impromptu Public Speaking

Impromptu Public Speaking
Do not think on your feet!
Sometimes you might be asked to give comments or a presentation without advance notice. You might be tempted to think on your feet. I strongly suggest that you do not think on your feet. It is easy to get yourself into trouble. Instead always be prepared to speak on very short notice. Impromptu speaking is similar to regular presenting – in that both are based on skill development. The better you know and practice the techniques the more it looks like talent.

Here are some techniques to help you with impromptu speaking.

Know some favourite stories that you tell well and can use to illustrate more than one message as required.
Quickly write three points on an index card – then talk about those points.
Decide on the one thing that you want to get across – and deliver that message.
Conduct your speech as an interview with yourself. Ask questions – and answer them.


Don’t think on your feet – instead be prepared.

George Torok
Speech Coach for Executives
Presentation Skills Training
Motivational Keynote Speaker

Foul Language at the Learning Annex

Foul Language at the Learning Annex in Toronto

I attended the two-day program by the Learning Annex in Toronto. The keynote speakers included George Foreman, Tony Robbins and Donald Trump.

What surprised me? Foul Language and Profanity


Tony Robbins
When did “shit” become a main stage word? Tony Robbins said the word several times during his presentation. At the same time he danced around the word “penis” with the phrase “Mr Happy”.

I wonder why Tony Robbins used these words. They did not help his presentation in any way. As the hero of many profesional speakers why was Tony Robbins so unprofessional?


Donald Trump
Donald never mentioned the word “shit” nor anything about his “penis”.

He did say “frigging”. He said the word “fucking” once while recounting a conversation he had with a banker. And he mouthed the same word while expressing his opinion about President Bush.

In Donald Trump’s case his use of these far more vulgar words fit his message. I wasn’t offended. I expected to be offended by him.


George Foreman
Curious that the most street-tough-punk of the bunch did not use offensive language. Good on you George! Read more about George Foreman's presentation here.


George Torok
Speech Coach for Executives

PS: What other words should you avoid when speaking?

Robin Williams is a Genius

My friend and I were watching, “Robin Williams On Broadway”. We both were laughing and enjoying the antics of Robin Williams when my friend exclaimed, “Robin Williams is a genius.”

And without thinking I replied, “Yes he is a genius and a skilled master.”

My friend responded, “He is a genius.” I repeated my statement. My friend could see only the art.

Because I am trained in the skill – I saw and appreciated the technique.


Learning points:
We see what we are trained to see.

Presentation skills are more about learned skill than talent.

George Torok
The Speech Coach for Executives