If you think you’re out of practice
Ever feel you just can’t make enough improvements because you don’t get enough practice? Many speakers would agree this is something that holds them back. And to a degree, I understand. Yet I also know this type thinking is an example of narrow application. Many litigators have told me a similar tale. They focus their .. read more
Extroverts can sometimes relate
Although it seems extroverts and introverts struggle with getting along (see this article for some tips and detail), quite often both temperaments are flexible enough for the other. Especially when the conversation directly focuses on temperament. It seems these are the times we are most ready to learn. Yesterday I led a seminar, Public Speaking .. read more
Mission Possible
As my readers know, I’ve written about ways to celebrate the introvert over the past several weeks. I understand their struggles with extroverted behaviors, especially as attorneys and other service professionals who need to develop strong client and network relationships. I am also an introvert. And I have a mission to help introverts share their .. read more
Getting the Introvert into Practice
In Cypris Chat I ran across an article on Readers’ Theatre Circle written by Professor Merryman. In the article Merryman focuses on the exploratory activity of gathering folks together to read aloud cinema scripts, focusing on intonation, timing and other conversational and improvisational elements. As a theatre director and performer, I recall doing similar things .. read more
6 Tips to Developing Business with Public Speaking
This business development post from 2011, still resonates today. The last thing an introvert wants to hear is the value of public speaking because it’s such an energy drain. Yet as business developers, even introverts confess, the best way to gain clients is through creating and developing relationships. And standing in front of a group .. read more
For Lawyers – 4 Guidelines for Improving your Professional Pace
Not to be confused with PACE University, whether online or in New York – which has a school of law- or with the P.A.C.E. program of Houghton University, which boasts a management degree for working adults, pace in this blog post has to do with speed appropriate to the moment. For decades now females have entered .. read more
Lawyers take note – our biggest flaw
Everything I coach I have personally needed to develop in – and to a degree, still need. Whether that is public speaking, interpersonal performance or intrapersonal behavior. So when I speak of our biggest flaw, I definitely include myself in the assertion. We get in the way of ourselves far too often. Of all things, .. read more
Merri’s Tips – Part 9
50. Remember your manners. It seems when we are tired, worn out or challenged by things in daily life, our manners get forgotten. Recall what you learned in kindergarten about being nice, friendly and personable. 51. Choose those times when manners aren’t needed. Whether you’re being bullied or physically attacked, manners will get you no place. .. read more
One Simple Rule of Thumb for Courtroom/Public Speaking
Recently I spent an hour with a client wanting a review of the presentation he’s giving for an office all-staff meeting. As I requested, he sent me the focus of his message in advance so I could get a sense of the content. Although it was fairly technical, I knew there were ways he could .. read more
Lawyer Communication: from Writing to Speaking
There’s no doubt about it. Lawyers are great writers. Whether this is based on natural gifts or skills they’ve developed over the years, it serves them well to craft the content, the flow and the wordsmithing of their written messages. Shift to speaking, and the circumstances can flip-flop from lawyers being confident to suddenly overwhelmed. Put lawyers .. read more
