Gatherround, Author at GatherRound

This Just In: You’re Creative

Funny thing about self esteem: It’s often at its highest when we need it least. The inverse seems true as well: When opportunity knocks, many of us (who aren’t proud to admit it) have been known to pretend we’re not home. This reaction, even though we attach our professional value to the content we share,…

I Share, Therefore I Am

Since our beginnings, we humans have defined our individual value by what we share with others. It’s as important a step in self-actualization as any other: Acknowledgement from an audience (of one or many) for providing information perceived as valuable. Does this mean we’re selfish? Hell yes. And we should be proud of it, too.…

How to Funny: Using Humor in your Presentations

Picture yourself selling an idea to an audience. Do you want your audience to laugh, or do you want them to be all business? That’s an easy answer. Laughing releases oxytocin, the feel-good brain chemical that helps boost feelings of loyalty and trust. Go for the chuckles, and help your audience feel how much they…

How to Get People to Show Up at Your Presentations

Recently, when speaking with a franchised restaurant client, we were discussing one of the greatest chicken/egg issues in the business: traffic. It’s a pretty simple equation, really, but talk it long enough and it starts to look like the snake eating its tail. More so than average guest check, traffic drives restaurant sales. And as…

7 Signs of Deck Addiction

Let’s just come right out with it, shall we? Corporate cultures can cloud our judgment and cause us to develop behaviors we wouldn’t otherwise endorse. Behaviors become habits, and the next thing we know, we’re preparing a PowerPoint to request vacation days. Sheesh. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Okay, maybe a little shame. But…

Stop Making Dinner in the Dark: A Case for Practice

Many of our clients ask us for shortcuts to improving their presentation presence. We’re going to get real with you here: not happening. When it comes to learning how to be a persuasive presenter and storyteller, there are NO shortcuts.

10 Things to Try Instead of Slides

We can’t help it. We do decks because it’s the convention, and because it feels better than going against the grain. But when’s the last time you really nailed it because of the quality of your slides? And are you sure that’s what deserves the credit? At GatherRound, we see the deck as a last resort.…

4 Presentation Mistakes You’re Probably Making and How to Fix Them

A presentation is one of the most powerful ways to make an idea a reality. When the audience buys in to what you’ve pitched — they can actually help your idea manifest. However, less-than-optimal presentations can do more harm than good. Here’s a look at the most common presentation errors we see at GatherRound. Are…

Anecdote vs. Story

Storytelling. While it’s GatherRound’s gift to the world, we’re aware it’s also somewhat of a buzzword in business, as the entire org chart learns to embrace humankind’s most enduring art form. We witness and contribute to thousands of versions of stories generated and shared every year, and we’re privy to many anecdotes as well.

When Should You Present? The Most (and Least) Persuasive Moments

Have you ever stood in front of a room and wondered if they’d rather be napping than listening to you? Have you ever felt like you nailed a presentation, but for some reason your idea went nowhere?