When coaching speaking skills, I’m interested in two language issues: what to say, and what not to say. Of course, the ultimate point of any coaching is to hone your […]
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Johnson & Hunter, Inc. Blogs
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A Message from Brian K. Johnson
Inspired by Independence Day weekend, I have made the decision to retire. It was forty years ago this summer that I first got on an airplane to travel and teach […]
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Always gesture, whether it can be seen or not
I’m exhausted from screaming. I’m sunburned in patches where I’ve torn out my hair. After decades of teaching that speakers should always gesture, I have failed completely. The utterly ridiculous […]
The post Always gesture, whether it can be seen
Lecterns Have Germs
A few weeks ago, during a daily pandemic briefing from the White House, I noticed something when Dr. Anthony Fauci answered a question. He had been standing off to the […]
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Talking Through Your Mask
Watching news programs lately, I’m struck by how often reporters are wearing masks. Some don standard-issue-looking white medical masks, others opt for colorful fashiony masks or even more industrial-strength N95 […]
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Update from Johnson & Hunter, Inc.
Dear colleagues and friends in the legal community, We hope you are staying safe and healthy as COVID-19 continues to spread. We are following the social distancing orders and keeping […]
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Be the visual aid: Gesture!
Use your gestures – be the visual aid! Here’s a throwback from Brian at the Grand Canyon showing how your gestures can help you communicate more clearly. Watch here.
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Audiobooks Now Available!
We’re excited to announce that our communication skills books for attorneys are now available as audiobooks! The Articulate Advocate: Persuasive Skills for Lawyers in Trials, Appeals, Arbitrations, and Motions and The Articulate Attorney: Public Speaking for Lawyers are now available
For Want of a Gesture
by Brian K. Johnson
I recently observed a participant in one of our speaking skills programs, a guy well over six feet, who spent way too much time leaning on the lectern and touching the floor with one toe as
How to Recover When You Misspeak
by Brian K. Johnson
I had an excellent follow-up question from a participant in a recent program. I thought it would be worth sharing my response here.
His question was: “Regarding the ‘structured improvisation’ method – what do you do