Rob Biesenbach's Blog, page 3

Here is the Secret to Happiness

I’m pleased to report that I have found the secret to happiness. (Well, happiness may be a stretch. Let’s call it contentment, or satisfaction.)

But it’s the reason that I can honestly say I have never had a bad year. And why I have trouble relating to the many social media posts every December bidding the outgoing year a not-so-fond farewell. “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, 2018!”

It’s not like I lead a charmed life. I’ve had my share of setbacks, failures and sadnesses. But I’ve...

Handcuffed to an Awful Presentation? 5 Things You Can Do

A new client came to me with a common problem: she was assigned to deliver a PowerPoint presentation that was created by someone else in her company but that she knew was no good. The slides were data-heavy and the script was boring and not audience-focused.

All the recommendations I would normally give were non-starters:

Can you change the slides? No. Can you cut slides? No. Can you add slides? No. Can you do it without the slides? No.

We did, however, find one important loophole:

Will th...

How to Focus Your Presentation: 7 Tips

A British professor recently conducted an informal (and wonderful) study showing that boring speeches are more likely to go longer. (Wouldn’t you know it? The pain of sitting through an awful speech is compounded by time!)

His findings point to the importance of brevity and discipline. So here are seven ways you can better focus your presentation.

But first, let’s look at that study.

The Data Behind Boring = Longer

Robert Ewers teaches at Imperial College London and it’s clear he attends more...

How to Deal With Negative Feedback

It happens to all of us: no matter how much positive feedback we receive, we can’t help but focus on (and obsess over) the negative — even if it represents just a sliver of the overall sentiment.

As a speaker (and actor) I get direct feedback all the time, and initially it can be hard on the ego. But eventually I’m able to put it in perspective and even embrace it. Here’s what I’ve learned about how to deal with negative feedback.

These insights are based on the form of feedback I most often...

All You Need is Love: 9 Lessons for Success from Gilda Radner

CNN Films

There’s a documentary coming out this fall on the late Gilda Radner, one of the original cast members of Saturday Night Live. Called “Love, Gilda,” it’s getting a lot of buzz.

In talking about what made her funny, Radner explained, “My biggest motivation has always been love.” That much is obvious. From the exuberance of her performances to her seemingly constant smile, she positively glowed from the inside out.

What may not be obvious is that love is a foundation of the comedy trai...

Sergio Marchionne and the Power of Emotional Storytelling

Sergio Marchionne

Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne died unexpectedly last week. It was a great loss — for the company that he helped rescue from the brink, and for his family and friends, of course.

In my latest book I wrote about an electric moment in Chrysler’s history where Marchionne took the stage and demonstrated the power of emotional storytelling to rally people around a cause, a brand, a leader. (With a notable assist from the iconic Clint Eastwood “Halftime in America” TV spot.)

...

How to Say No and Preserve Your Sanity

I have been asked several times by frazzled colleagues how I manage to avoid being overwhelmed with work. My answer is simple: I know how to say no.

It goes back to my agency days. If you’re not careful, your time gets parceled out to so many clients and projects that none get the attention they deserve. Or you end up working 80 hours a week.

So I always jealously guarded my time on behalf of my clients. This skill has been key both to my effectiveness AND my sanity. Saying yes to everything...

How to Create a Story: a 5-step Process

Study after study confirms that stories have unparalleled power to captivate audiences and persuade them to act in our favor.

But how do you go about crafting a story? Here’s a step-by-step guide that will show you how to create a story that will help you win hearts, change minds and get the results you want — whether it’s convincing a customer to buy, an employee to get on board or a skeptical public to come around to your point of view.

First, a Story: Estela & the Candy Factory

To bring th...

How to Rehearse a Presentation: 5 Simple Steps

Failure to prepare is one of the biggest mistakes presenters make. But most people have a hard time getting their arms around the process.

In my workshops I share the technique that works for me. Participants have found it to be one of their most valued takeaways, so here is my totally not-patented five-step process for how to rehearse a presentation.

First, though, let me cover a couple of key questions.

Why is Rehearsal Important?

I wish it could go without saying that rehearsal is importan...

Speakers: How to Write Your Own Introduction

Here is one common phrase that you’ll never hear me utter at the start of a presentation: “Thank you for that kind introduction.”

Why? Because it would be vain. After all, I’m the one who wrote that kind introduction! And that’s what every speaker should do.

Even if you’re simply an occasional conference presenter, learning how to write your own introduction for others to deliver is an important part of the process.

Why Write Your Own Introduction?

Your presentation begins before you say a wo...