“Should I start my presentation with an attention grabber or self introduction?” This is a question I received recently. My answer: “It depends on your audience.” Look online for advice on the best way to start a presentation, and you’ll find numerous types of “hook”...

“When I’m giving a presentation, what should I do if I don’t know the answer to a question or need time to think?” People ask me this a lot. So let me share four tips here. 1. Paraphrase “Paraphrasing” means repeating in your own words what someone else said....

While rearranging the chairs in the meeting room of a large corporation in central Tokyo recently, I realized that I now have no qualms about rolling up my sleeves and shifting the room layout to improve the presentation impact. In the past, I might have hesitated and...

This was a question from Stuart Ayre through the Sasuga! Communications website. Thinking the topic might also help others, I’m sharing my response here. I’m assuming two things. First, I know who the audience is and have a clear message that is helpful for them....

I’ll never forget when a European colleague started a serious Japanese business presentation with “Tsumaranai nihongo de moshiwake gozaimasen” (I apologize for my boring Japanese). It was a genuine mistake. He meant to say “tsutanai nihongo” (poor Japanese). The...

A few years ago, I laughed at the idea of learning presentation skills online. You have to be in the room to experience it and get feedback, I thought. I seem to have proven myself wrong. This month, 12 people participated in my live webinar on “How to Wow your...

If you're interested in working with me on presentations, click here. Do you want to improve your presentation skills? Speak with confidence in meetings with colleagues of multiple nationalities? Communicate clearly on global calls? The Sasuga! Presentation Skills...

I was surprised and delighted to receive the flowers in the photo from participants who completed the first five-session Sasuga! Presentation Skills Course. What a beautiful reminder of how everyone's confidence and skills bloomed over several weeks. One participant...

We had some extra fun at a Sasuga! Presentation Skills workshop the other day with Teamcation. I first heard of Teamcation when the inventors of the activity – a group of international school girls aged from 11 to 12 – emailed and asked to interview me as a...