It’s that time of year again, when Randy Ford and I sit down and share the best and worst of speaking from the year. We share our own wins and sins, along with those of other speakers. The DNC took place in Chicago, so, of course, we had to pick on the public speakers in our hometown.

“What if the audience stops paying attention?” It’s on you, the speaker, to ensure they’re engaged. See my one of my top suggestions for how to find tools to keep people listening and interested during your online meetings.

I sat down with Kirsten Ramos and Paula Kircher, the hosts of The Savvy Session, to discuss simple but effective ways to captivate any audience. Hear my advice on pre-presentation relaxation techniques, and more.

Think about the experiences you’ve had at work, at conferences, or in meetings. Read on for my favorite icebreaker - a sure-fire way to engage your audience.

Thinking on your feet - or, as my clients say, “pivoting”- is a muscle that needs to be developed and worked regularly to stay fit - and to always have that pivot skill ready to go. Here are 4 easy ways to build and keep up that think-on-your-feet skill.

It’s okay to be nervous when you present! It’s perfectly normal. It’s your body’s way of telling you, “I care about doing a good job.” [Yes, I know, you would be fine without your body telling you in such a distracting way. Me, too.] The key to manage stage fright: don’t let it overtake you.