Tool For Better Speaking and Writing
Create and deliver effective presentations:
Heath Brothers’ Made to Stick resources, especially “Making Presentations Stick”
Matt Abrahams’ article, “How to Make Unforgettable Presentations”
Duarte’s website, including the book Resonate and the slidedoc template
Presentation Zen website by Garr Reynolds, especially “Presentation Tips”
Jennifer Aaker’s video, Persuasion and the Power of Story
John Madea’s video, From Storytelling to Storylistening
Be inspired. With the advent of TED (Technology, Education and Design) conferences and videos, it’s easy to find motivating speeches online. Watch these talks for inspiration:
Arianna Huffington, Get more sleep
Celeste Headlee, 10 ways to have a better conversation
Dr. Laura Trice, The power of saying thank you
Mark Bezos (Jeff’s brother), A life lesson from a volunteer firefighter
Omar Ahmad, Making political change with pen and paper
Richard St. John, Secrets of success in 8 words, 3 minutes
Simon Sinek, Start With Why, TED talk short edited
Stefan Sagmeister, Designing with slogans
Take advantage of online writing resources:
A Plain English Handbook: How to Create Clear SEC Disclosure Documents
Grammarly free grammar checker and writing assistant
U.S. government’s Plain Language website, including word suggestions
Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) for free writing resources and exercises
Books on communications:
The Associated Press Stylebook, the Associated Press
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, Anne Lamott
Communicate with Mastery: Speak with Conviction and Write for Impact, JD Schram and Kara Levy
The Elements of Style, William Strunk and E.B. White
Speaking Up without Freaking Out: 50 Techniques for Confident and Compelling Presenting, Matthew Abrahams
Weekend Language, Andy Craig and Dave Yewman
Why Business People Speak Like Idiots, Brian Fugere
Most Stanford Business School students have ideas they believe would make a positive difference in the world. The LOWkeynotes program challenges students to share these ideas and to enroll others in their vision through a nine-minute presentation.
The following links are talks by students Martha Weeks coached in the LOWkeynotes program:
(You can also view all LOWkeynotes here on YouTube.)
Amanda Johnson - Seek the Unsolvable
Anu Shama - Caregiver Generation - Are You Ready?
Harsh Chamria - Financial Inclusion: Investing in the NINJA's of the World
James Wong - Transforming Lives: How We Can Help At-Risk Youth
Mary Ellen Player - Crossing the Line
Marissa Duswalt - The Power of Conscious Eating
Nicholas Hinrichsen - Enabling Others to Pursue Their Passion
Stacie Vilendrer - A Hippocratic Oath for Health Tech Entrepreneurs
Susan Pohlmeyer: Solitude: Understanding Yourself in a World of Overload
Zipho Sikhakhane - The Poetry of My Africa