Episode 283: Well-Presented with Mike Pacchione

On this episode, I’m joined by my good friend Mike Pacchione. Mike is a speaking expert who helps presenters find their voice on stage. (Hint: putting yourself in your speech, while scary, is a bit of a secret weapon for making your speech memorable.)

Mike has worked with more than 10,000 speakers from companies all over the world, including giants like Google, Nike, Microsoft, Starbucks and the NSA.

I’ve known make for several years now and I look to him whenever I’m putting a talk or presentation together. I wanted to bring him to the program to not only share with you some of his best tactics and tips that will help you present your ideas and insights well, but also to remind me of what I need to do in order to do the same. After listening to this episode you’ll be able to take Mike’s knowledge and experience and apply it to your presentations so you’ll be able to confidently deliver them in a way that leaves your audience wanting more.

Talking Points

  • Why is making the assumption that because you have improvisational skills that you can nail a talk a really bad idea?
  • How much time should someone take into consideration while making a presentation?
  • This is what made Mike decide that he wanted to give talks and help other people with their talks full-time
  • How do you balance knowing your stuff but not coming off too prepared or monotone – or looking like you dont know your stuff and are all just “show”?
  • Is there such a thing as too many talks?
  • This is how Mike is constructing his time, now that he’s running his own business and has a child
  • What does a typical day look like for Mike?
  • Some thoughtful tools and tips that Mike shares for presenters to use to their advantage
  • Does Mike recommend eating before going on stage?
  • What advice do you give people when they know they have a talk at a time during the day that isn’t ideal?
  • We talk about being the talk that wraps up an event or conference and what you should do if you find yourself in that slot
  • Here’s the one piece of advice Mike would give someone who is giving a presentation

I always tell people they should feel like the presenter is a friend.

– Mike Pacchione

The Productivityist Podcast theme song is Nothing at All by Fictions (courtesy of Epidemic Sound)


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