The Eloquent Woman's weekly speaker toolkit

Fans of The Eloquent Woman on Facebook see these good reads, resources and ideas from other sources there, in addition to posts from the blog. But I want to share the insights with all the blog's readers, so I'm summarizing that extra content and putting it here on the blog. Here are the finds I shared in the week just past:

• Speaking up is just one among these 8 things to do when men dominate the room. Smart tips to keep in mind for meetings and more.
• "Speaking is difficult," said Gabrielle Giffords, the only reference she made to being shot in the head herself as she testified before a Senate hearing on gun control. Watch this brief but powerful statement, limited to the simple words she can say, plus fantastic focus, delivery and emphasis. Would that we all could do so well.
• Learn from the radio: NPR's Robert Krulwich should be your model if you want to learn how to be more conversational in your presentations.
• Booster shot: Need more self-confidence? Here's a tip on how to reboot or even program it, a useful back-pocket trick for speakers.
• Antique speeches? Antiques Roadshow last week had two speaker-related items: Draft speeches from President Eisenhower, and a New Zealand artifact that Maori chiefs used as a power symbol during their speeches.
• Where the words come from: Here are 20 words we owe to William Shakespeare. Talk about eloquent...
• This week's quote is true in everyday life, perhaps, but does it always hold true for a speech? From my Pinterest board on quotes for public speakers.

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