Jim Harvey – Personal Impact

Are You a Presentation Coach on the Go?

Jim Harvey — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 16:14:43 +0000

If you are then there’s a certain amount of kit that you will need on you at all times. Jim has spent many years travelling all over the world, speaking, training and coaching. In the linked post he takes you through the essential kit that a good presentation coach should never leave home without.

Travelling Presentation Coach? Here’s All the Kit You Need

Stand up Comedy – Can It Really Be That Difficult?

Jim Harvey — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 15:24:44 +0000

If stand-up comedy is just another kind of public speaking then how hard can it really be for a seasoned speaker?

Last year Jim set out to find out and soon learned the importance of discovering your comedy persona – and it doesn’t even need to be a fictional one. Just knowing what/who it is is essential.

What can the business communicator learn from this? Well it turns out that self-awareness is an essential trait for a great speaker too. Understanding that and becoming more flexible as a speaker will allow you to become ever more confident whilst ‘on stage’.

In this article Jim explains how to identify your persona and then use it: Taking It to the Next Level: Stand up Comedy – How Hard Can It Be?

Make It a Habit and Watch Your Presentation Skills Soar

Jim Harvey — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 14:54:45 +0000

Ok – the basics first: create a strong story, design professional and engaging visual aids, then connect with your audience. These will all improve your presentation skills, but once you’ve mastered those, what next? How does the experienced presenter move to the next level? Keep improving? Become a truly confident speaker who can adapt to any situation, no matter what it throws at you?

Fortunately Jim has a few ideas and shared them with the readers of Presentation Guru. You can find out too here: 3 Habits That Will Take Your Presentation Skills to the Next Level.

What Is the Point of Your Presentation?

Jim Harvey — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 12:54:23 +0000

If you can’t explain what you want to say in a single sentence, you don’t know

Or so says Philip Collins, speechwriter and journalist with Times of London.

Understanding the ‘Why’ of what you do is the keystone of any good presentation. If you understand the value of what you are saying, you will be much more credible in delivering the message. If you understand it – and believe it – your audience is more likely to too. And then the buy-in will follow. That simple really!

Jim explains more here: What’s the One Thing That Will Make You a Better Communicator?

Show Your Audience They’re Special to You

Jim Harvey — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 11:51:06 +0000

There is nothing more compelling than a speaker who cares for his audience and realises that their job is to honour their time, experience and intelligence.

Malcolm Gladwell may not be the most flamboyant of presenters but he is without doubt one of the most charismatic, well appreciated for the mutual respect he encourages between himself and every audience he ever addresses. Watch him speak and you will witness a masterclass in what a speaker should do to develop these powerful traits.

Read Malcolm Gladwell on Connecting with an Audience

Rock Your Presentation

Jim Harvey — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 11:31:29 +0000

How often does a book come along that you wish you’d written yourself? A book that both the novice and the seasoned public speaker will learn something from? And contains advice that works for both small and large audiences?

Well we’ve found one here and you can read Jim’s review of it at: Book Review – Rock Your Presentation by Nigel Barlow

The Best Way to Deal With an Angry Audience

Jim Harvey — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 10:56:32 +0000

Regular readers of this blog will be aware of the Fit Focus Flair model for presenters. It builds on classic influencing techniques and is undoubtedly the best model to follow when speaking to angry or difficult audiences. In this example we look at an audience of speeding drivers on a driver education programme, all feeling very resentful that they are being punished for a ‘crime’ they don’t feel even is one. Talented instructors are able to convince even this audience and Jim shows how a bit of Fit, Focus and Flair helps them do it.

Find out more here: Presenting to Angry and Difficult Audiences? Try Subtlety

5 Really Simple Ways to Improve Your Presentation Skills

Jim Harvey — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 10:25:30 +0000

It is a simple fact that people tend to make sweeping judgements about a person’s personality and competence based upon the ‘thin slices’ of information available. So if you present slightly better than those around you, you’ll stand out. If you stand out, you’ll get a reputation for being capable in so many more areas than that. In other words, presenting better than the norm will give you a competitive advantage over others in your industry or profession. It’s worth putting in a little effort to stand out and get ahead.

Fortunately there are tried and tested tips that will help you improve your presentation skills and they won’t cost a thing. So, there’s no excuse! Follow these 5 pieces of advice and you’re well on your way.

You’ll find them all here: 5 Really Simple and Cheap Ways to Improve Your Presentation Skills

How to Plan for the Unexpected Questions

Jim Harvey — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 09:50:55 +0000

Of course it’s always possible to be caught of guard but, in business, we can reduce the chances of that. Reasoned responses to the unexpected can be prepared in advance. Taking the experiences of salespeople, stand-up comedians and pilots as examples, Jim shows how a bit of preparation and practice (and more practice) will have you primed and ready to deal with that unexpected question that is sure to be asked sooner or later.

His advice was published in full at Presentation Guru and you can read it here: How to Prepare for the Unexpected Question

Einstein Had a Foreign Accent – Do You Think He Was Stupid?

Jim Harvey — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 16:07:31 +0000

Anyone who speaks to international audiences in English faces a particular set of challenges that can affect their confidence, and their competence. Native English speakers are often the worst presenters to international audiences in English because they assume that their English is the only version of English and go from there. This lack of empathy for their audience can make them very difficult to understand, or even to like. And, on the other hand, if English isn’t their first language, the lack of confidence in their own English can affect their ability to share ideas, wisdom and knowledge.

In these two articles, Jim Harvey shares some of his experiences of speaking to international audiences over 25 years and explains that the secrets to being understood require similar changes in approach from both types of speaker.

So You Speak English – What If Your Audience Doesn’t?

How to Make Sure Your Accent Won’t Ruin Your Career