Rob Biesenbach's Blog, page 5

Is the Tide Turning on Death by PowerPoint?

I was meeting with a new client the other day who was about to show me his PowerPoint deck for a presentation we’ll be working on together. He prefaced it by saying he tried to follow the recommendations in my book to emphasize images over words.

My expectations in these situations aren’t super-high, and I assured him that the TED-Talk style is aspirational, and not every deck or every slide in that deck is going to reach those heights.

Then I saw the slides. And they were great! Big, beautif...

7 Ways to Bring the Love in Your Communications

On this Valentine’s Day I’m reminded of an important principle of improv comedy: come from a place of love. That’s also useful advice for our everyday communications (and for life in general, of course).

So here are seven ways you can bring the love in order to become a more successful communicator.

But first, an explanation of what love has got to do with it.

The Root of Bad Improv

Beginning improv classes are often dominated by 20-something males competing for Alpha dog status. So they tend...

Your Presentation is Like a Train, Not a Car

One of the most important keys to a successful presentation is forward momentum. Few things are more frustrating than listening to a speaker who zigs and zags, stops and starts and takes forever to get anywhere.

I tell my clients to think of their presentation as a train, not a car. You have to drive it ever-forward, pushing, pushing, pushing along the track. It should not resemble a breezy, extemporaneous road trip where you’re constantly stopping for snacks or bathroom breaks or exiting the...

5 Things I Hate About Facebook “Stories”

Through their constant tinkering, Facebook has foisted a lot of unpopular features on us over the years (Ticker, anyone?). But to me, the worst is the new Story function.

Excuse me, “story.” Those should read as air quotes. The biggest, most sarcastic air quotes you’ve ever seen. Dr. Evil-style air quotes.

Why has this feature earned my bitter enmity? Several reasons. But first, some quick background.

What is the Story Function?

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, just look to very top...

Learn How to Tell Your Story

Have you ever been caught tongue-tied when someone says, “So tell me about yourself” in a job interview or asks, “What’s your story?” at a networking event?

This Friday I’ll be conducting a free webinar that will help you tell your story in a way that makes a strong first impression and get the results you want, whether it’s to nail a job interview, forge a strong connection or win over an audience.

What Not to Do

Too often when we’re put on the spot we resort to a chronological recitation of...

New Year, New Website, New Me

Ahhhh, nothing beats that new website smell!

Take a look around. I hope you like what you see. It’s the product of eight months of blood, sweat and tears. Well, maybe not blood. At least none of mine. I can’t speak for the programmers and designers.

But I think it effectively captures who I am right now and how I benefit clients — helping them communicate with purpose, power and impact so they can achieve their goals and enjoy more success.

You can read more here about my speaking, consulting...

What I Did on Summer Vacation

Oops, we did it again!

Biesenbaby 2 (aka, Lily) arrived on the scene at the end of July, which has put a serious dent in my productivity this summer, especially with helping run interference on Biesenbaby 1. Getting Teddy ready in the morning and taking him back and forth to daycare has turned my day into an actual 9-to-5 job (with occasional bouts of early morning or late night work when I’m not otherwise exhausted).

None of this helps as I finish up my new book, oversee the overhaul of my w...

Why Storytelling is Like a Tree (Stick to the Point!)

Few things test my patience like listening to a meandering story that wanders from tangent to tangent without ever getting to the point. Learning to focus your story on the essentials may be the hardest part of storytelling, which is why I compare storytelling to a tree.

That means when you’re telling a story, you want to move pretty much in a straight line — like you’re following a tree trunk from the base to the top. Any time spent out on the branches (or, God help us, the twigs) is a tang...

Why You Should Tell Personal Stories (and How to Do It)

In my last post I talked about the importance of telling original stories. One of the best ways to be original is to tell personal stories derived from your own experience.

Some of my clients are reluctant to do this. They’ll say that nobody wants to hear their stories. Which isn’t true. Especially if you’re a leader, audiences want to know who you are and what you stand for — and personal stories are the perfect way to communicate that.

Don’t Let Fear Stop You

I actually think their concern...

Tell Original Stories to Set Yourself Apart

Everyone wants to stand out from the crowd, but you can’t do that by telling the same old stories people have heard a million times. That’s why it’s important to tell original stories.

Our stories are what set us apart as individuals. They communicate who we are and the values we hold dear. They make it easier for people to connect with us.

But time after time, at conferences and in blog posts, I hear the same stories told over and over again.

The (Tired Old) Chevy Nova Story

One of the dus...