The Great Big Voice Blog
Reflections on finding your voice, strengthening your presence,
and communicating what matters most, on stage and beyond.
Executive Presence
What “Zen Boy” Taught Me About Leadership Presence Under Pressure
What “Zen Boy” Taught Me About Leadership Presence Under Pressure Anyone who knows me understands that I am a highly emotional person. A passionate person, you might even say. I am easily tipped into BIG FEELING, which means I have […]
Stop Trying to Look Like a Leader: How to Build Authentic Leadership Presence
Stop Trying to Look Like a Leader: How to Build Authentic Leadership Presence “Am I what they’re looking for?” “Am I coming across the right way?” “Do I seem professional enough?” “What do I need to do to get them […]
The Charismatic Leader: Leadership Presence Begins Within
The Charismatic Leader: Leadership Presence Begins Within Why Leadership Presence is An Inside Job Last year, a senior leader came to me to prepare for the biggest interview of his career. He had spent years in high-level leadership roles, […]
How Great Leaders Give Feedback Without Destroying Confidence
How Great Leaders Give Feedback Without Destroying Confidence Leadership Feedback That Builds Confidence. Feedback is one of the most powerful tools a leader possesses. Done well, it inspires growth, builds confidence, and helps people reach levels they didn’t know were […]
7 Executive Presence Lessons That Will Transform Your Leadership Communication
7 Executive Presence Lessons That Will Transform Your Leadership Communication When people think about executive presence, they often picture a CEO in a tailored suit confidently leading a boardroom meeting or delivering a keynote presentation. But one of the most […]
4 Ways Executives Benefit From Public Speaking Training
Public speaking training isn’t just for professional speakers—it’s one of the most valuable leadership skills an executive can develop. Whether you’re leading meetings, pitching investors, presenting to clients, or preparing for a CEO role, your ability to communicate with confidence […]
9 Ways to Sustain Charismatic Presence & Presentation Skills
Charisma isn’t a one-time performance—it’s a lifelong practice. Charismatic presence for speakers. If you’re striving to become a compelling communicator, you already know that delivering a standout presentation takes work. But the real magic lies in sustaining your presence and […]
Maximize Your Physical Presence: Why How You Stand Changes Everything
Maximize Your Physical Presence: I was taking a walk a few days ago when a neighbor stopped me with a compliment that made my day: “I was just thinking about you—actually, I was trying to stand like you do! Your […]
To Be A Better Leader, Be A Better Speaker
Ashok, a mid-level manager and new presence and presentation coaching client, shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “The problem,” he said, “is that in order to be promoted at my company, I need to be able to speak confidently in front […]
For Presentation Mastery, Sharpen The Saw
When I was cast in a production of Claire Booth Luce’s play The Women at the San Diego Repertory Theater, I learned a lesson that has stuck with me ever since. Our cast of about 20 incredible women was guided […]
5 Practices for Presence & Presentation Mastery
When it comes to presentations, how skilled are you at giving them? How activated and consistent is your Charismatic Presence, the magnetic life-force that draws people into you? No matter where you are in your journey as a speaker or […]
Presentation Tip: Managing The Moment Before
Recently, I had the opportunity to watch Sing Sing, a film that tells the inspiring story of inmates at the famed Sing Sing prison who participated in a transformative program called Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA). This powerful film, enacted […]
Managing Interrupting and Being Interrupted
When it comes to communication and presentation skills, I’m passionate about coaching and training everyone equally. Today, though, I want to focus on an area that’s particularly relevant for women in my audience: the art of interrupting and holding your […]
3 Ways to Start Your Speech and Maximize Your “Magic Moment”
You’re sitting in a darkened, crowded auditorium. The speaker you’ve been eagerly awaiting has just been introduced. In silence, she steps up to the microphone. This moment—the silent magic moment before the speaker utters her first words—is almost unbearably pregnant […]
Interview Tip: Dress For The Role
In a recent coaching session, a client of mine, a mid-level manager eyeing a VP position in his company, raised a common but crucial question: “What should I wear for the interview? Sport coat and a nice shirt? Or just […]
25 Axioms For Presence & Presentation Mastery
Welcome to our blog, where wisdom meets the stage! Thirteen years ago, I embarked on a journey of sharing distilled wisdom through what I coined as “Eleni-isms” – concise nuggets of truth that resonate with audiences far and wide. Today, […]
How To Handle Those Pesky Q & A’s
Navigating the Q&A section after a presentation can be a nerve-wracking experience for many professionals. The uncertainty of not knowing how to respond to questions can lead to anxiety and insecurity. But fear not, as I share with you some […]
To Increase Executive Presence, Sharpen Your Word Pronunciation
I once had the CEO of a company reach out to me to ask if I would coach a member of his leadership team in sharpening his verbal skills so he could increase his executive presence. “The problem,” he explained,” […]