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Obama's inauguration speech.

Read Bert Decker's succinct review here ...

 http://www.bertdecker.com/experience/2009/01/the-inauguration-speech-pro-and-yes-con.html

Ian Griffin looks at it from a rhetorical standpoint. http://www.exec-comms.com/blog/2009/01/20/obama-the-lion-in-winter/

Read the speech here http://www.pivotalpublicpeaking.com/obama_inauguration.htm

Watch it here  http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=PFU2opNwgZU&annotation_id=annotation_760255&feature=iv

and check out this fascinating tool   Obama Inauguration Speech Word Tree  http://adjix.com/kr43

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How to create a presentation for your speaker

By Christine Kent

Streamline the process of creating slides for your speaker
Not all of us who work in communications are blessed with a strong design sense—we’re usually good with words, and we leave the design and image creation to the experts. But communications people are eventually called on to create smart, informative and eye-catching slides for an executive presentation—usually under some insanely tight deadline.

For those times when you are pressed into the “slide jockey” role, Nancy Duarte, presentation design maven, offers some advice. Duarte says the task of creating a presentation for someone else is made tougher by the fact that executives believe they are defined by their presentation style.

http://adjix.com/29nd

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Presentation styles, trends and trendsetters

Recently, I've become aware of some emerging trends regarding presentation styles and have recognized some individuals who seem to be at the forefront of these trends.  Stylistically, these trends often involve rapid, compact presentations spoken over carefully chosen words and imagery to punctuate the points being made. These 'cut the crap' style presentations can be surprisingly informational and quite entertaining if delivered well. It's something that personally gets me motivated to attend events and makes me hopeful for the future of visual storytelling.

As humankind has evolved from telling stories on cave walls to seeing world leaders use PowerPoint (for better or worse) we've also evolved how narrative takes place. Here are some emerging trends I've been able to identify:    http://adjix.com/428

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Pechu Kucha, an Alternative Format for Presentations

by Joanna C. Dunlap, CPT, PhD

I attend numerous conferences, symposia, and workshops each year—both as a participant and a contributor. I am increasingly frustrated with my colleagues’ and my own performance. In general, the issue is our misuse and overuse of the standard presentation format: bulleted slide after bulleted slide.

... more

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Video – Guy Kawasaki – The Art of the Start

The inimitable Guy Kawasaki - we cannot hope to imitate, but we can learn from his style.

How would you have handled the time problem?

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Book – There's no such thing as public speaking

Make Any Presentation or Speech as Persuasive as a One-on-One Conversation

by
Jeanette and Roy Henderson
Whether addressing a few colleagues or a packed auditorium, readers will find practical and simple techniques for inspiring every listener. It's a wonderful blend of solid concepts, practical applications, and invaluable techniques. It takes the speaker from the planning stage through to the execution stage of any presentation. It addresses not only speaking in front of a crowd, but also one on one and small group interactions.
plus how to get the book for free
or pay $15 and get three bonuses

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Using maps in presentations

.... dedicated to uncovering innovative mapping solutions and fresh design ideas. ... the best maps are capable of displaying a stunning depth of geographic information, quickly and easily, in a way no other infographic can match. http://adjix.com/6j65

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Underdressing For Public Speaking

Has a guy ever told you something, and you just had to go, "Really?  That's what you thought.  Really?"

I had one of those thoughts when reading Guy Kawasaki's Reality Check.  (a must read for every entrepreneur and marketer)

Guy gives tips about public speaking, and one of the tips was to overdress - never dress beneath the level of the audience.  I totally agree.   But it was Guy's reason not to underdress that made me go, "Really?  That's the signal it sends?"

http://marketingtowomenonline.typepad.com/blog/2008/12/underdressing-for-public-speaking.html

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7 Tips For The Master Of Ceremonies

MC’ing events and conferences at the top professional level is a real blast. The fundamental key is to make everyone else look like stars…then you’ll shine along with them.

http://publicspeakingtipsguides.com/speaking/speaking-tools-and-resources/7-tips-for-the-master-of-ceremonies-116

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How to make sure your speech flows

It’s very important that your speech have an intrinsic rhythm or “flow”; otherwise, it may come across to listeners as staccato, dull and/or uninspiring. But how do you ensure that your next presentation has a natural cadence that adds to the clarity and energy of the information being conveyed?

Though some people do have a natural gift for writing and delivering speeches that keep audience members spellbound from beginning to end, it’s absolutely fine if you didn’t receive that talent at birth. The ability to create a “flowing” presentation can be learned, and it’s probably much easier than you think.

To begin, try these top seven suggestions for maximum results during your next public speaking engagement:

http://www.publicspeakingexpert.co.uk/how-make-sure-your-speech-flows.html