Almost 40% of Americans never make New Year’s Resolutions. Those that make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than those that do not. Here are five apps that will help you achieve the most popular resolutions. Drink Less Dry January is an easy […]
When starting out in the practice of law it is easy to get overwhelmed with all that you were not taught in law school. New lawyers are often more worried about whether they look incompetent then in building their careers. However, the great thing about being new is that you have more opportunities than you […]
VISUAL AIDS A visual aid is a chart, picture or other visual item that helps accentuate a speaker’s point. Visual aids are important to aid the speaker’s organization, maintain the interest of the audience, and assist in persuasion. The use of a visual aid can increase an audience’s retention by up to 43%. Power Point […]
SPEECH DELIVERY-PART IV PUBLIC SPEAKING 101 Delivery of a speech can be broken down into four basic methods: Manuscript, Memorization, Impromptu and Extemporaneous. Which method you use will depend on your ultimate goal in giving the speech. Let’s examine the four methods: Manuscript In a manuscript speech, the speaker reads word for word from a […]
Lawyers can enhance their presentations by adopting the right balance of gestures, body movement, and eye contact. Here are a couple of things to think about: GESTURES Gestures can enhance a presentation, or distract from it. The key to gestures is moderation. For example, too much hand waving is distracting. However, ticking off points using […]
In part two of Public Speaking for Lawyers 101 we look at articulation, pronunciation and the use of fillers. Articulation and Pronunciation As lawyers, people expect us to have a command of English and to use language precisely. Therefore, if we are lazy in articulation and pronunciation, we lose credibility. For example, how many times […]
Lawyers are inevitably asked to speak in front of various organizations. Many people believe that lawyers have a natural ability to convey a point of view effectively. Little do they know that many lawyers view public speaking as a curse, rather than a gift. I respect the fact that speaking in public is not a […]
Honestly, words matter, and it is very critical that you stop using three not okay words! Michael Kesten of KestenMedia is a communications expert that examines how the words you use can hurt you in trial. He says that trail lawyers need to drop the following three words from their vocabulary: Honestly How many times […]
“Most people know what they do. Many know how. Few know why.” These are the words of my mentor coach, David Krueger, MD. and they ring true regarding my legal career. I know I am a lawyer and also that I am good at what I do. What I struggle with is “why.” Is it […]
The four months of training was exhausting, but I recently completed my third triathlon. During the swim portion I was elbowed and kicked. During the bike portion I really began to feel the heat of what turned out to be the hottest day of the year. During the run, I said to myself “I’m never going […]
