Sublime

human. We kind of think the voice is the narrator. It certainly helps if the stories are riveting, but a great voice renders the dullest event remarkable.

Speaking to 5,000 people with television cameras rolling, taking any question they can throw at you on stage, thinking on your feet during a live satellite radio interview, or helping a small group of executive team members see their business more clearly — these are the results of

Make the remarks worthy of the audience’s time, and your One Big Thing—your main point—memorable, memorizable and lasting.

1. You gain more trust when seated, not standing.


2. Don’t speak at people—speak with them.


3. An informal tone is more persuasive now. Even leaders must adjust to this.


4. Conversations have more influence than speeches.


5. Spontaneous comm

Indeed, the ancient Greek philosopher Epictetus said, “Nature hath given men one tongue but two ears, that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak.”

There's a related lesson, though, that I only came to fully appreciate years later, when I was in a position of real leadership, It's so simple that you might think it doesn't warrant mentioning, but it's surprisingly rare: Be decent to people. Treat everyone with fairness and empathy. This doesn't mean that you lower your expectations or convey th

Tyler Cowen has argued that one of “the most valuable things you can do with your time and with your life” is to believe in people.