Thought Leadership

Primacy and Recency for Speakers (Part Two)

In Part One we examined how audiences remember the first thing they hear (primacy) and the last thing they hea...

Episode #65: Interview By Guy Perryman Tokyo InterFM 897

Why do interviews feel harder than presenting on stage? When you present to an audience, you control the flow:...

How—and When—to Break the Rules of Presenting: Using Dramatic Contrast to Command Attention

Most presenters don’t even know they’re breaking rules. They have enormous Johari Window blind spots, repeatin...

Episode #66: Presenting: Good Is The Enemy Of Great

Why do so many experienced leaders give “good” presentations that still feel forgettable — even in high-stakes...

Episode #67: How To Come Up With Speech Content

Why is your talk title so important for audience turnout? When a company asks, “Would you please give a presen...

How to Use Questions to Engage Audiences and Break the Monotony of Traditional Presentations

Despite massive shifts toward hybrid and online formats, most presentations today look—and feel—like ancient r...

Episode #68: Having More Presence As A Speaker

Why do even senior leaders sometimes fail on stage? In a packed five-star hotel ballroom, two high-profile lea...

How to Craft Business Stories That Hold Attention, Build Credibility, and Inspire Action

Many presenters think storytelling is only for novelists or creative writers. I used to think that too—especia...

“Style vs. Substance” Is a Myth: Why Great Leaders Must Master Both Content and Delivery

During a major annual strategy meeting—hundreds attending, senior leaders presenting—each department head took...

How to Structure Business Stories That Break Through Information Overload — Context, Insight, Relevance

When Nobel Laureate Herbert Simon warned in 1971 that “a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention,...

Episode #70: How To Be Confident When Presenting

Why do so many professionals in Japan want “confidence” in presentations? In boardrooms across Tokyo (東京—Tokyo...

Authenticity vs. Imposter Syndrome: When to “Fake It” and When to Be Real in High-Stakes Presentations

Authenticity is powerful because it is sustainable—pretending to be someone else requires enormous cognitive e...

Episode #71: Watching Others To Learn Presenting

Why is public speaking so stressful, even for experienced professionals? When you’re in the middle of presenti...

Why Leaders Fail on Camera: How Poor Messaging Destroys Trust, Persuasion, and Executive Presence

You’ve probably seen it: a senior leader makes a major financial request, publishes a video, and instead of in...

Episode #72: Experts Not Very Expert At Presenting

Why do expert presenters often fail to persuade, even with great data? Expertise alone doesn’t win trust. In h...

How to Deliver Powerful Openings and Audience-Relevant Presentations — Mastering Personal Branding Talks for Business Leaders

At a recent business luncheon, attendees gathered to hear a senior executive from one of the world’s largest c...

Cancel Culture and Public Speaking: How Presenters Can Navigate Sensitivity, Context, and Free Expression Today

In the Age of Distraction and the Era of Cynicism, presenters in 日本企業 and 外資系企業 face a new reality:welcome to ...

Episode #73: The Power Of Belief When Presenting

Why do some speeches change minds while business presentations fall flat? Executives often notice a gap: publi...

How to Lead and Communicate Effectively in Breakout Rooms — Virtual Collaboration Skills for Japanese & Global Teams

As 日本企業 and 外資系企業 invest more time in Zoom, Teams, and hybrid meetings, breakout rooms have become routine. Ye...

Episode #74: Do You Have A Great Voice As A Speaker?

Why do most business professionals struggle with their voice when presenting? Most people in business have nev...