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Presenting for Humans: Insights for Speakers on Ditching Perfection and Creating Connection
Lisa Braithwaite’s brain is wired to take everyday encounters and experiences and turn them into insights on public
All become examples or analogies designed to teach a public speaking lesson.
Through short, engaging essays and reflection questions, Lisa challenges your preconceived notions about speaking and encourages you to create meaningful and memorable experiences from every presentation.
Presenting for Humans offers practical lessons and supportive words for all business presenters, whether speaking in boardrooms or ballrooms, whether just starting out or seasoned veterans.
For anyone looking to make a major impact on audiences and offer them a transformative growth experience, this book is the resource to get you there.
All become examples or analogies designed to teach a public speaking lesson.
Through short, engaging essays and reflection questions, Lisa challenges your preconceived notions about speaking and encourages you to create meaningful and memorable experiences from every presentation.
Presenting for Humans offers practical lessons and supportive words for all business presenters, whether speaking in boardrooms or ballrooms, whether just starting out or seasoned veterans.
For anyone looking to make a major impact on audiences and offer them a transformative growth experience, this book is the resource to get you there.
- GenresNonfiction
206 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 13, 2017
8 people are currently reading
214 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Braithwaite
2 books15 followersLisa Braithwaite is a public speaking coach and trainer, mentoring entrepreneurs to create memorable and engaging presentations in order to build their businesses through speaking.
Before launching her business in 2005, she spent sixteen years developing programs for nonprofits as an advocate and educator.
She has a B.A. in Theater and an M.A. in Education, and has been interviewed for the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Men’s Health, Toastmaster Magazine, and Inc.com. She’s the author of Presenting for Humans.
Lisa’s philosophy is that public speaking is fun, it's an awesome way to express yourself creatively, and it offers an accelerated approach to developing an intimate and trusting relationship with your target audience.
Before launching her business in 2005, she spent sixteen years developing programs for nonprofits as an advocate and educator.
She has a B.A. in Theater and an M.A. in Education, and has been interviewed for the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Men’s Health, Toastmaster Magazine, and Inc.com. She’s the author of Presenting for Humans.
Lisa’s philosophy is that public speaking is fun, it's an awesome way to express yourself creatively, and it offers an accelerated approach to developing an intimate and trusting relationship with your target audience.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 14, 2022
When people have been asked their biggest fear, the answer has frequently been speaking in public. We hold ourselves back, afraid to take to big step or put ourselves too far out in front of the crowd. If no one notices us, we can’t get hurt. However, the more often you speak, the more often you expose yourself to different venues, audiences, and circumstances, the stronger you become as a speaker.
While PRESENTING FOR HUMANS by Lisa Braithwaite, public speaking coach and trainer, is targeted for more formal programs, the stories and suggestions can apply in many situations. While that often refers to addressing a large group as a presenter or member of a panel, it can also apply to a short presentation at work, making a statement at a community or committee meeting, teaching a class, or thinking of what to say on a first date.
The book addresses the question of how to make our words interesting and important enough to the listeners that they can use them in their own lives.
Each section of the eight chapters (Preparataion, Confidence, Fun, Connection, Service, Experience, Standing Out, and Mindset) stands alone. Readers can read all of them, in any order, or some of them and find useful tips. Each chapter opens with a short introduction telling the sources of the stories, which include tattoo artists, a school math book, food, sports figures, entertainers, a drag queen, and advertisements. Each section ends with self- reflection question. The book also includes downloadable worksheets and checklists.
Braithwaite begins with the importance of preparation. The better prepared a person is, the more likely it is that the experience will be positive for both the audience and the speaker. Connecting with the audience is the most important action. Know where they are and what they hope to gain during the time they are spending with you. Make them part of your presentation. But being so overly prepared that you become mechanical can lead to problems.
Other highlights include:
Using slides and power points to build your presentation, not substitute for it.
Making the experience fun for the audience and yourself increases its effectiveness. It can be appropriate in almost all situations. I have found that humor in a eulogy helps connect with the deceased as the real person he or she was..
Speaking from a place of genuine interest, intuition, and service.
If you feel insecure, change your attitude. Don’t let them overwhelm you and hold you back.
PRESENTING FOR HUMANS is well-written, well-organized, and covers a lot of areas concisely. Even though I have not done a lot of formal speaking, I found I could relate to a lot of it for many situations.
While PRESENTING FOR HUMANS by Lisa Braithwaite, public speaking coach and trainer, is targeted for more formal programs, the stories and suggestions can apply in many situations. While that often refers to addressing a large group as a presenter or member of a panel, it can also apply to a short presentation at work, making a statement at a community or committee meeting, teaching a class, or thinking of what to say on a first date.
The book addresses the question of how to make our words interesting and important enough to the listeners that they can use them in their own lives.
Each section of the eight chapters (Preparataion, Confidence, Fun, Connection, Service, Experience, Standing Out, and Mindset) stands alone. Readers can read all of them, in any order, or some of them and find useful tips. Each chapter opens with a short introduction telling the sources of the stories, which include tattoo artists, a school math book, food, sports figures, entertainers, a drag queen, and advertisements. Each section ends with self- reflection question. The book also includes downloadable worksheets and checklists.
Braithwaite begins with the importance of preparation. The better prepared a person is, the more likely it is that the experience will be positive for both the audience and the speaker. Connecting with the audience is the most important action. Know where they are and what they hope to gain during the time they are spending with you. Make them part of your presentation. But being so overly prepared that you become mechanical can lead to problems.
Other highlights include:
Using slides and power points to build your presentation, not substitute for it.
Making the experience fun for the audience and yourself increases its effectiveness. It can be appropriate in almost all situations. I have found that humor in a eulogy helps connect with the deceased as the real person he or she was..
Speaking from a place of genuine interest, intuition, and service.
If you feel insecure, change your attitude. Don’t let them overwhelm you and hold you back.
PRESENTING FOR HUMANS is well-written, well-organized, and covers a lot of areas concisely. Even though I have not done a lot of formal speaking, I found I could relate to a lot of it for many situations.
July 19, 2020
Lisa's book is a must-read for speakers who want to engage with their audience. It removes the pressure to perform and reminds the reader that humans thrive on connection. Love Lisa's humor and energy! Excellent delivery of practical advice for speakers presenting in intimate workshops or headlining a conference.
September 24, 2019
Presenting for Humans: Insights for Speakers on Ditching Perfection and Creating Connection by Lisa Braithwaite is about public speaking. Lisa Briathwaite uses stories to help explain what to do when presenting. Her suggestions are practical. This book will help you if you have to do any kind of public speaking.
I received a copy thru a Goodreads Giveaway.
I received a copy thru a Goodreads Giveaway.
Want to read
May 14, 2019I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. I truly appreciate the opportunity to receive this book and plan to read it in the near future. Unfortunately I have not had the opportunity to read this book at this time. I will add my review of this book once I have read the book. Thank you for allowing me the optometrist review of your work. I look forward to reading this book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews