Questions | Michael Davis

public speaking techniques, speech openings, become a better speaker

Grab ‘em with Curiosity

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Michael Davis | 0 Comments

You’re familiar with the phrase ‘curiosity killed the cat’. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it definitely is a benefit to human beings. This emotion can be an effective tool to creating [and keeping] your audience’s interest. In their classic business book Made to Stick, authors Chip and Dan Heath discuss the power of curiosity, stating “The human brain,…

Why THIS Story?

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Michael Davis | 1 Comments

Have you every listened to a story and thought “That’s a great story, but…..what’s the point?” Recently I attended a Toastmasters District speech contest. Some well-told and engaging stories were shared. However, at the conclusion of most speeches, I was left with two questions… 1) What’s the point? and 2) Why should I care? Far too often, presenters leave their…

Make Your Stories Sizzle – Step 1

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Michael Davis | 0 Comments

Open with a Bang! How do most presenters open their presentations? ‘Thank you ladies and gentleman for that introduction. It is a great pleasure to be here today. Thank you also to the steering committee, your Board of Directors…blah blah blah”. Sound familiar? Maybe not those exact words, but you get the idea. What’s wrong with this type of introduction? …

Why THIS Message?

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Michael Davis | 0 Comments

You know how you want people to Think, Feel or Act after they hear you speak. Now, think about the specific idea you want to share. More importantly, understand why you want to share this message with your audience. It must be applicable to their lives, and presented in terms of benefit to them. In addition, people are looking for…

The 3 Parts of a Presentation (part 2)

Posted on January 1, 2008 by Michael Davis | 0 Comments

Last month, you learned about the importance of life force – the energy, enthusiasm and passion you bring to the platform. Once you have the life force, it is time to look at the 2nd part of your presentation, the material. The material consists of your main message and the structure of your presentation. The main message is the most…