Networking is about building strong relationships. That starts and hinges on effective communication skills. Talk to strangers. Make connections, Build trust and mutual interest.
When You Are NOT Known to the Audience
🟢 Establish Credibility Quickly
Briefly introduce yourself with relevant expertise.
Example: “I’m [Your Name], leading [Project/Initiative]. I’ve analyzed [Key Issue] and have a recommendation for you.”
If someone is sponsoring your presentation, mention their support.
What’s the difference between Live, Virtual and Hybrid Presentations How might you adapt your delivery to the format of the presentation? Let’s consider three presentation formats – in the room, virtual and hybrid. IN THE ROOM (LIVE) This is the traditional way that we are most familiar with, everyone in the same room. The size of the room and nature of the audience makes a difference. Lets examine three scenarios for in-the-room. Small Room When speaking in a small room of 5 to a dozen people, you can speak in a moderate voice and make direct eye contact with each person throughout the presentation. You will get immediate feedback from their body language to gauge the direction of your presentation. This can be conversational. Medium Size Room When you have more than 50 people, you will need a microphone. Don’t yell. Use the mic. Practice with the mic before the presentation and get comfortable with it. You need to put more energy into the presentation and make eye contact around the room. You can use bigger gestures when you speak. Big Stage When you speak to an audience of a few hundred or 1,000’s you are on a big stage. You must get comfortable with the stage before you speak. Get on the stage before anyone is in the room so you become comfortable with the stage. Make friends with the AV people before you start because they can help you, especially when things go wrong. You must use your big voice and big gestures just to be noticed. Use the full stage as you speak. That means moving purposefully about the stage to emphasize key points. Don’t pace nervously. No need to be a rock star, simply be bigger in everything you do in front of the audience. Your pauses can be more dramatic. You need to wait longer for the laugh because it takes time for the humor to traverse the room. Your image will likely be projected onto large screens so the audience can see you. That means they will be watching you on the screen not you on the stage. That means that you need to play to the camera and not the people in their seats. VIRTUAL Presentation The surprise might be how much energy a virtual presentation can suck from you. As the speaker you might feel isolated while you speak to the cold camera because you’re not receiving energy back from the audience. Your audiences need to believe that you are talking to them and making eye contact with them. That means that you can’t look at their images on the screen. You must look at the eye of the camera. Read that again. Eye contact is a perception. When you look at the camera, they believe you are making eye contact with them. And you feel distant. The second energy suck is on the audience side. The camera sucks your energy and magnifies your flaws. You need to put more energy into your words, voice and facial expressions. Your body language is limited to small gestures. HYBRID Presentation Welcome to this strange new world. Hybrid meetings and presentations open new opportunities and present tough challenges. The benefit is that people who would not attend because of distance, timing or personal circumstances can now attend your meeting virtually. This can be a valuable way to be more inclusive with your events. The challenge is that people who attend virtually can feel like second class attendees. With a small group of 10 to 30 it’s easy to make everyone feel included – both live and virtual. With large groups, you must decide which is the primary audience. That might be determined by the ratio of live to virtual. The bigger group is likely your key audience. If your live audience is your primary audience, speak to them while the virtual audience lurks. You can occasionally talk to the camera to include them. If your primary audience is virtual, talk to the camera most of the time. This is the model for TED talks because the vast majority of virtual views surpassed the live audience. Do you need to adapt your presentation to the environment? Yes. You must adapt to audience size and presentation format – In-the-room, virtual or hybrid. Discover The Podcast Questions? Call George Today!
Mastering Effective Communication How can you be a more effective communicator? What does it mean to master your communication challenges? How might you boost your communication skills? These are some of the questions we address on this podcast as a guest of Andy Silvius. The best lessons from the *Evolving Business Minds* interview between host Andy Silva and guest George Torok focused on actionable strategies for effective communication, particularly in professional settings. Here are the standout takeaways: 1. Audience-Centric Messaging – Torok emphasized that understanding your audience is crucial. Shifting focus from what you want to say to what the audience needs to hear creates a stronger connection and makes your message more persuasive. This can lead to higher engagement and better retention of information. 2. Storytelling as a Tool for Engagement – Using stories and anecdotes makes messages relatable and memorable. Torok illustrated how even everyday experiences can be leveraged to create compelling narratives that resonate deeply with listeners, adding a layer of authenticity to the speaker’s message. 3. Simplicity and Clarity – Clarity is a cornerstone of effective communication. Torok recommended focusing on delivering clear, concise points to avoid overwhelming the audience. This involves prioritizing key messages over unnecessary details, which can help maintain audience focus and prevent information overload. 4. Preparation and Practicing Mindfulness – Torok stressed the importance of preparation and mindfulness when it comes to public speaking. Recording and reviewing oneself is a powerful practice to refine content and delivery. This process helps reduce anxiety and builds confidence, ultimately leading to a stronger, more professional presentation. 5. Adaptability During Presentations – He also highlighted the importance of staying flexible and adapting based on audience feedback. By reading the room and adjusting the tone, pace, or even content in response to audience cues, speakers can maintain interest and ensure the message resonates. This is especially useful for speakers aiming to foster a genuine connection with their audience. In essence, the top lessons from this interview were to prioritize audience needs, use storytelling effectively, keep messages clear and concise, prepare thoroughly, and be adaptable in real-time. These elements are fundamental for anyone looking to improve their communication skills, whether in presentations, meetings, or one-on-one interactions. The best lessons from the *Evolving Business Minds* interview with George Torok focused on practical and impactful communication strategies. Here’s a recap of the standout advice: 1. Put the Audience First – The most effective communication is audience-focused. Torok emphasized that instead of focusing on what *you* want to say, focus on what the *audience* needs to hear. This shift helps create a message that resonates, connects, and holds the audience’s attention. 2. Use Storytelling to Connect – Stories are memorable and relatable, making complex messages easier to digest. Torok shared that using personal anecdotes can build rapport and make points more impactful. Storytelling isn’t just about entertainment—it’s a strategic tool to anchor key messages in listeners’ minds. 3. Be Clear and Concise – Simplicity is power. Torok recommended focusing on clarity and brevity, as an overload of information can dilute a message’s impact. A straightforward approach helps keep audiences engaged and ensures the message sticks. 4. Preparation Builds Confidence – Torok underscored that preparation and practice reduce anxiety and improve delivery. He suggested recording practice sessions, reviewing them, and continuously refining. This habit not only boosts confidence but also allows speakers to perfect their timing, tone, and clarity. 5. Stay Flexible and Listen Actively – Effective communicators are adaptable. Torok advised watching the audience’s reactions and being willing to adjust on the spot. A good speaker “reads the room” and adjusts pacing, tone, or emphasis based on audience cues. This flexibility makes the interaction feel more dynamic and keeps audiences engaged. These lessons boil down to a few core practices: knowing and prioritizing your audience, making your points memorable through storytelling, communicating clearly, preparing well, and being responsive to real-time feedback. Together, these strategies lay a strong foundation for becoming a more effective and engaging communicator. Discover The Podcast Questions? Call George Today!
f you want to be a guest on my show, reach out, I will review your message and profile.
And I will reply with a yes or no. If it’s no, I’ll tell you why, because I believe you might appreciate the honest response and might learn from the perspective.
Apparently some people don’t appreciate an honest response. You know what’s coming next. One who did not appreciate a response or honesty.
When you are looking for an executive speech coach, how do you evaluate your choices? How can you choose the coach that is right for you? Like communication, it’s an imperfect process. Yet, there are principles that you can follow to help you make a better choice.
PowerPoint Monsters and Disasters You Can Avoid …if you Want
You know that a PowerPoint presentation can be a painful experience for the presenter and especially the audience. Let’s have some fun and throw some humor into the mix to laugh at the terrible PowerPoint presentations and then we can fix it. Let’s become aware of the problem and then work to use slide more effectively.
I was a shy and introverted student who learned to become more confident and more effective as a communicator and speaker. I’m still an introvert. That means that I can participate in public engagement and then I need alone time to recharge. You can be an introvert and still be a confident speaker.
The fiction is only one part of the story. The setting is a spaceship, yet the individual episodes are often about relationships and communication challenges.
What might we learn about communication while humans attempt to communicate and forge relationships with alien species about the cosmos?
