Biesenblog
Riveting Insights on Communication, Storytelling and Presentation Skills
I’m Not Angry
In the hours after the September 11 attacks, I was furious. I wanted revenge -- and if the pursuit of that resulted in some measure of justice, so be it. But justice was not the first thing on my mind. We still don't know who was responsible for the attacks in Boston,...
3 Quick Tips for Presenters and Public Speakers
I love public speaking. I spoke to a couple of groups of college students this week and it was a lot of fun. (And if it's not fun, why do it?) Here are some quick tips that came to mind. 1. Write your own introduction Sometimes the person who introduces you will put...
The Secret to Being a Better Editor (Plus 5 Essential Tips)
When you're providing feedback on other people's writing, do you ever get a nagging feeling that they're angry or resentful? It may be because you're being a jerk. You can't help it. You weren't trained to be an editor. People who hold that title in media companies...
Stop Misusing This Everyday Word!
I wrote about this issue nearly a year ago. And still, it persists. To review: Everyday means ordinary or commonly occurring while every day means each and every single day. Sly Stone assures us that in spite of his fame and lifestyle, he is simply “everyday people.”...
Sharpen Your Storytelling — A Quick Lesson from Ronald Reagan
Whether you think Ronald Reagan was a great communicator or THE great communicator or simply a decent one, the man knew how to tell a story and land a joke. A great example is the now-legendary...
Do People Text While You Talk? Maybe It’s Not Them, It’s You
Business presenters often complain about the sight of audience members texting and tweeting away while they speak. I choose to see it as a challenge instead of an annoyance. First, let's be clear: distracted audiences are nothing new. I remember a college professor...
In Storytelling, Keep It Simple (Stupid)
Storytelling is both deceptively simple and deceptively complex. That is, people either underestimate or overestimate its difficulty. As a result, some people get intimidated and don't believe they can tell a decent story. Others are undeterred, and go around claiming...
Cut Your Writing to the Bone: 6 Tips
Editing your own material is one of the hardest things for a writer to do. And it is a must-have skill in this attention span-challenged age. I was reminded of this as I prepare a couple of upcoming speeches. "Where can I possibly make cuts? It's ALL gold!" Luckily, I...
Blah Blah Blah — Less Blabbing, More Thinking
Wherever you go, you can hear them. Their voices blare over the background hum at coffees shops, in airports, on the bus. They sure talk like they have an answer for everything, but when you listen (which is all-too-hard not to do), they don't seem to be saying much...
Connect with Your Audience — the Dustin Hoffman Way
When I tell business people they need to bring out their inner actor in order to connect with customers and employees, someone (usually a lawyer) will inevitably ask, "What do you mean you want us to act? You want us to fake it? To pretend?" Absolutely not. That is...
Forget the Facts; Win Their Hearts
It's been said that people buy on emotion and justify with logic. I don't have any facts to back up that assertion, but I believe it in my heart. Actually there's been study after study showing how emotion often trumps reason when it comes to decision-making. So...
A Lesson From the Book of Mormon About Turning the Other Cheek
I went to see the Book of Mormon on Sunday and it was as hilarious as everyone has said. But I was just as struck by something I saw in the program. It's no secret that the church takes a lot of heat in this show. And this was their response: a series of full-page ads...
