by Sharon Ferrier | Jun 20, 2019 | Powerpoint, Presentation skills, Speak up & Persuade, Speech Writing
Ten years ago I delivered ‘Escaping PowerPoint Purgatory’ at the Australian Institute of Training and Development (AITD) conference. I spoke about the research from Prof John Sweller¹ and how putting text up on the screen encourages us to multitask and this, in turn,...
by Sharon Ferrier | Nov 19, 2016 | Presentation skills, Speaking, Speech Writing
One of the things I love about my job is the incredible variety of people and subjects I am exposed to on a daily basis. Whenever I am helping someone write a speech though, the questions are very similar: How am I going to present all this information in my 20 minute...
by Sharon Ferrier | Jun 5, 2016 | Confidence,Persuasion,Speaking, Presentation skills, Speech Writing
Public speaking 101 – Are you still delivering a speech the way you were taught at school? During the Easter holidays my sons organised popcorn movie night with their friends to watch the movie Minions (91 minutes of my life I won’t get back) the trailer is...
by Sharon Ferrier | Oct 14, 2014 | Presentation skills, Speaking, Speech Writing
I love speaking at conferences. It’s an opportunity to meet new people, challenge myself with new ideas and to travel. Wherever possible I stay for the day so I can listen to the speakers before me. I love hearing and seeing other people present and understand how...
by Sharon Ferrier | Aug 20, 2014 | Speech Writing
Chairing a meeting is like running a three ring circus. You have the elephants that want to slow everything down, the clowns’ intent on turning your meeting into a slapstick show and the lions in the wings waiting to bite your head off! There is a way to be a...
by Sharon Ferrier | Jun 17, 2014 | Confidence,Persuasion,Speaking, Speaking, Speech Writing
I want you to try something for me next time you’re alone. Stand up and hold a book at waist height and read it out loud. Listen to what happens to your voice. When you lower your head your voice gets squashed and vocal variety is reduced. It’s also harder for people...