Unforgettable Presentations
Unforgettable Presentations
Darren LaCroix, Mark Brown
Attention experienced corporate presenters, public speakers, professional speakers and pastors. Do you want to deliver a good, a great or an unforgettable presentation? Get insights from behind the scenes on some of the most unforgettable presentations ever delivered. √ What's the story behind the presentation? √ Where did the idea come from? √ How did they prepare it? √ How did they execute it? Join World Champions of Public Speaking, Mark Brown & Darren LaCroix. They have been world-class speaking coaches for over a decade and have trained presenters in over 14 countries. You'll love their chemistry and wisdom. What will you hear? Some episodes will be rock-solid content, some episodes will be interviews with presenters who delivered an unforgettable presentation.
Ep. 208 Are You a 'Super Speaker?'
Imagine hearing a presenter and thinking, “They remind me of Tony Robbins and Les Brown. The perfect Motivational Speaker!” Then you meet them in the hallway and they sound ‘normal’…as if they turned off their ‘speaker voice.’ In this episode, Mark and Darren discuss authenticity and pose the challenging question: Are YOU ‘Super Speaker?’   SNIPPETS: • Be yourself. Bring your personality to every presentation   • If your assignment warrants a dramatic voice, then use it.   • No need to try being the ULTIMATE EXPERT   • Your audience is already there and they want to hear YOU   • Record and watch yourself on video   • Do a gut check and assess yourself   • Avoid the risk of seeming disingenuous   • Authenticity + Vulnerability = Credibility
Aug 17, 2023
16 min
Ep. 207 Your Cutting Room Floor?
“But it’s some of my FAVORITE MATERIAL!”   We want to give our audiences ALL our wisdom and experiences. But that’s not always the best decision. Today Darren and Mark expound on three reasons why our favorite material must sometimes end up on ‘THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR.’   SNIPPETS: • Your stories, anecdotes and references must serve your ‘PREMISE PURPOSE’   • The WEIGHT of your story may be heavier than your message   • Your content shouldn’t overshadow your premise   • Consider the RELEVANCE to your audience   • Your liking a story doesn’t mean the audience will   • If a story is too long for the allotted time, you may need to cut it   • Store Cutting Room Floor material in your Story Folder for later   • You can use Cutting Room Floor material to create handouts   • Test your content
Aug 10, 2023
20 min
Ep. 206 – 9 Costly Corporate Presentation Mistakes
Poor corporate presentations can cost you money. Today Mark and Darren will discuss NINE corporate presentation mistakes and offer tips on how to avoid them, helping you to become an unforgettable presenter.   SNIPPETS:   • Be clear on what you want your audience to Think, Feel & Do   • Clarity, Clarity, Clarity!   • Include a clear Call To Action (CTA)   • Be aware of what your audience is thinking   • Ping the audience, check in, engage   • What does your audience NEED   • Are you overwhelming your audience with data   • Respect your audience’s time; you might be the only obstacle to LUNCH   • Don’t let anyone ‘out-prepare’ you
Aug 3, 2023
45 min
Ep. 205 – Going To Your Dark Place
Should we tell our most painful stories…the ones that take us to The Dark Place? Today Darren and Mark have a serious conversation about this touchy subject and offer solid advice about when to go to your Dark Place. SNIPPETS: • Your message is a MESS with AGE   • You must be able to laugh about your struggle before you can talk about it.   • Don’t abuse the privilege of the platform   • Your Dark Place story shouldn’t overtake your speech   • Go to your dark place when it’s appropriate and effective   • There may be value in going to your Dark Place   • Cushion the setup of your Dark Place story   • Be sure you can find your way back   • Be sure you have healed before going to your Dark Place
Jul 27, 2023
26 min
Ep. 204 The Big Secret to Being Funny
“But I wasn’t born funny!” may be a common exclamation, so what’s the SECRET to being funny? For answers, Darren and Mark turn to television producer and comedy writer Chris McGuire has worked with celebrity talent like Justin Bieber, Martha Stewart, Arsenio Hall and Snoop Dog. Lessons from his experience behind the scenes and on the stage will help you to be unforgettable. SNIPPETS: • Confront your discomfort   • Pay attention to the news of the day   • Use your experience and your interests   • Filter out the raw material and choose the best bits   • Write 20 jokes to get 2 good ones   • Keep a notebook and write 3 ideas a day; that’s 90 a month, 1,000 a year   • Authenticity is key   • Be willing to bomb   • Don’t give up too soon and get up after a bad experience; move on   • Tap into common experiences with your audience
Jul 20, 2023
56 min
Ep. 203 Your Audience Helps You Write Your Speech?
Believe it or not, your audience can be an ally who helps you to hone your content and make your presentation even better. Mark and Darren explain how being attentive to your audience can make you unforgettable. SNIPPETS: • Have a pre-event conversation with meeting planner and client   • Listen for client stories that you can use to customize your presentation   • Ask about the client’s challenges and concerns   • Listen between the lines (oohs and aahs); reactions reveal what resonates   • Observe between the lines (nods, notes etc.); confirm that content connects   • Record post-event conversations…with permission.   • Sift through audience comments and use what will help improve your talk
Jul 13, 2023
25 min
Ep. 202 How Do You Know if You are Unforgettable
You want to believe that your audience remembers you and your message, but how can you KNOW? Today Mark and Darren explain the value of KEEPERS and ACTION ITEMS, tools that will help you know that you are UNFORGETTABLE. SNIPPETS: • Set up the value of keepers and action items very early • Use cardstock sheets that are separate from a workbook • Use separate bright colors for each • Use editable pdfs for virtual attendees • Keepers are written confirmation of the transfer of value • Keepers reinforce value to employers, managers and supervisors • Keepers are consistent reminders of ideas, tools and techniques • Action Items are immediately actionable next steps after a presentation • File keepers and action items in their own separate folder and review often • Refer back to accomplished action items to reinforce belief
Jul 6, 2023
28 min
Ep. 201 Are You Up for a Challenge? With Alexandre Matte
Co-hosts Darren & Mark encourage their clients to stretch and challenge themselves. Today Mark discusses his greatest speaking challenge…a 12-minute speech in French…and he is joined by his French-speaking coach Alexandre Matte. As they discuss this unique journey you will learn how and why accepting a challenge and following through can help you to be unforgettable. SNIPPETS: • NOT accepting a challenge deprives your audience of learning opportunities • When faced with a challenge get a coach and an ally • Be open to tools and techniques to help you overcome your challenge • Use a challenge to upgrade your skills • Be encouraged by past challenges you have overcome • It’s never too late to grow • Don’t let your ego get in the way • Learn all you can about your audience • Even if you reach a summit, keep climbing • After the challenge, ask, “How did I grow?” • Challenge yourself to serve, even if your execution isn’t perfect
Jun 29, 2023
48 min
Ep. 200 3 Ways Presenters Can Use AI
AI is everywhere. How can presenters use AI as a tool, without diminishing their expertise? Today Darren and Mark offer THREE specific ways that presenters can use AI advantageously. SNIPPETS: • Think of AI as an intern • Speakers who don’t use AI could be replaced by AI • Use AI to create ‘sticky’ phrases • Use prompts to get the options you need • The more specific the prompts, the better the results • Meeting planners respond to catchy presentation titles • AI can help you to customize your speech to serve different demographics • AI can give good feedback, but will never replace a qualified coach
Jun 22, 2023
36 min
Ep. 199 Receiving Tough Feedback
You’ve just delivered your presentation, then someone gives you feedback, and it feels tough…even harsh. Now what? Mark and Darren have been there, and today they talk about how to receive critical feedback and use it to your advantage. They also examine how we as presenters can GIVE constructive feedback to benefit our fellow communicators and offer advice on how to maximize the feedback we receive.   SNIPPETS:   • There is a time and place for tough feedback   • Be willing to improve based on the feedback we receive   • Don’t let your ego get in the way of learning   • Don’t let tough feedback cause you to stop   • Crave feedback, not a pat on the back   • Don’t miss the golden opportunities to improve your speech   • Don’t deprive yourself of the opportunity to leave your message   • Don’t deprive future audience of the opportunity to learn from you   • Look for kernels of truth on all feedback   • When feedback hurts, it helps   • Let tough feedback be a rung on your ladder to being unforgettable
Jun 15, 2023
25 min
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