How to Practice a Speech: Key Strategies Practice and rehearsal is essential for giving a great presentation. But occasionally clients or students ask me exactly how much they should practice. Of course the correct answer varies for each person. But the short answer is that you should rehearse until you know the entire presentation by … Read more
Frank Luntz, a Republican consultant, spearheaded the messaging change from “estate tax” to “death tax” in the 1990s. The term “death tax” had been used decades before, but it was used again at that time as Republicans sought support for its repeal. By shifting the frame from a tax on “estates,” (which sounds like it only affects very … Read more
Framing is everything. I’ve written before about the power of framing in persuasion. At minute 1:40 in this segment on Fox News, Dr Oz shows how it’s done, whether intentionally or not: He briefly turns a conversation about healthcare spending into one on homelessness. Because the whole tone of the discussion to that point is … Read more
I’ve written before about the power of agreement as a tool of persuasion. Most people expect their “opposite” to disagree and fight them. So when you agree with someone, even if just on the surface, you immediately interrupt that predictable pattern. You get their attention, and you start validating their ego. With the egotistical issues … Read more
Reframing happens when you create a new context, or a new “frame” for a discussion. It’s one of the most powerful and effective ways of communicating. Reframing is especially critical when you are trying to compete for attention or acceptance. By reframing the entire conversation, or the way your counterpart thinks about the issue, you shift … Read more
In 1874, Benjamin Disraeli became UK Prime Minister. Each new leader had to meet with the Queen, who at that time was Victoria. In “The Art of Seduction” Robert Greene tells the story of their first meeting: Two more unlikely associates could not be imagined: Disraeli, who was Jewish by birth, had dark skin and exotic features by English standards; … Read more